Gannawarra 2025
The Vision for Gannawarra
Shire was created by the community. It is positive and shows a desire to
re-focus and to move forward. The Vision is intended to achieve major benefits
for the Shire. Kerang, as the major service centre, must play its part in
delivering these benefits.
Characteristics
The Masterplan was informed by key characteristics
identified during the Investigation. Some are already evident, some need
enhancing and some must be developed and
embedded in the Masterplan design. These new characteristics will ensure that
it can be ‘defined by its difference’.
Friendly
Kerang is a place where you see friendly faces, where people stop and talk, congregate and meet. It is a place where families enjoy time together and where people find new friends. It is a place where young and old walk, cycle and drive safely, night and day. The friendly city greets tourists and travelers and invites them in. It welcomes new faces and diverse cultures and makes them feel at home.
Inviting
Kerang is already perceived as
accessible but the future will see this transform into a sense of active
invitation. The inviting town is warm and welcoming. Its character is evident
at its entry points. Visitors are attracted into town whether they are driving,
or whether they arrive by train or by bike. The inviting town ensures that
visitors and newcomers are attracted by what they see, find their way into the
centre, easily locate what they want and need and discover some hidden secrets
that make them want to return.
Adaptable
Kerang has adapted over the
years, utilising its heritage and building new facilities, businesses and
homes. It continues to adapt, this time to a whole new set of challenges
associated with such things as an aging population, agricultural innovation,
the Asia century and climate change. The
adaptable township uses all its assets, repurposing buildings and sites,
creating new spaces and trying new ways of doing things. The adaptable city is
not stuck in the past; it works with the past but tries new interventions,
innovates and supports the needs of diverse cultures and its youth.
Creative
Kerang’s future relies on its
creativity. The creative town expresses itself in its art and culture and in
its embrace of innovation. It actively seeks new ideas, it trials new business
prospects, it welcomes diverse means of expression. It looks for opportunities
to establish clusters, networks, partnerships and collaborations that spark new
ways of thinking and acting.
Sustainable
Kerang is poised to expand its
position as a sustainable town. It embraces new forms of energy generation. It
uses resources wisely and supports recycling. It uses water more effectively.
It encourages a level of health and wellbeing in its citizens. The sustainable
Kerang places a high value on its natural environment and celebrates it in
everyday life.
Diverse
Kerang in the future welcomes
diversity in all its forms. It is a town that treats people equally regardless
of age, religion, race or economic standing. It uses its public space to
celebrate this vibrancy and to support its community in all its varied
interests and enthusiasms.
Principles
During the Investigation a set
of Principles emerged. These were used to guide the Masterplan design,
optimizing its assets and identifying where investment best be made.
Definition
The town centre must be
defined and distinct in the future, so that residents and visitors know when
they enter and can see and feel the change between more recreationally focused
areas, residential and industrial areas. Creating definition and a sense of
edge and transition is a key principle.
Intensity
Closely related to
definition is the development of a level of intensity. This reveals itself in the
vibrancy that comes from the mix of retail and other businesses found in a town
centre and is evident in the level of activity that occurs throughout the day
and into the evening. Creating a centre with intensity and activity is a key
principle.
Connection
Moving around town
freely is critical to its success. Traversing the CBD, making entering,
parking, moving around and through easier for pedestrians is important for a
more sustainable and adaptable future. It also provides a means to showcase
Kerang throughout the journey. Creating avenues for connection is a key
principle.
Experience
A focus on quality of
experience is vital. More than mere functionality, the future CBD must
encourage leisure and enjoyment in all seasons and around the clock. Creating
places that are a pleasure to visit is a key principle.
Activation
Places are made for
people. As much as doing business and shopping, social interaction,
information, inspiration and entertainment are very much experiences that are
part of town life now and in the future. Providing more opportunities for
planned and informal activity is a key principle.
