People
The
people associated with Kerang have contributed significantly to its development
and culture over the years.
Any
celebration of identity relating to people starts with the original
inhabitants, the indigenous peoples. Reflecting their stories should be
considered when introducing sculpture, artworks and activation in the CBD.
Significant personalities associated with the town include:
Significant personalities associated with the town include:
·
Major Thomas
Mitchell – the first European, connected to the arrival of convicts and the
start of white settlement
·
Woodford Patchell –
an early farmer, associated with the first hotel and the beginnings of
irrigation
·
Burke and Wills –
the explorers whose expedition passed through Kerang
·
Henry Lester Smith
–President of the Murray Valley League who gave his name to the water tower,
now a lookout
·
Sir John Grey Gorton
– Australia’s Prime Minister, the former Mayor of the Shire of Kerang, who
spent the early days of his marriage on his father’s orchard in the district
·
Karlie McDonald- the
Kerang High School teacher who gave her life to save her students and is
memorialised with the clock tower
Celebration of identity through people should also include those currently living in the region and making a difference to life in Kerang.
These personalities and their contribution, or their memories, can be explored through, art, sculpture and interpretive signs as well as using print brochures and maps and digital tours and trails. The choice of expression should be agreed to work with the aims of the Masterplan and to optimise the experience of Kerang and increase residents’ and visitors’ connection to the town.
1
Precinct; Sir John Gorton, former Australian
Prime Minister
2
Memorial; Karlie McDonald Memorial Clock Tower,
erected to honour the death of Kerang High School Teacher who gave her life to
save students from drowning in the Loddon River during swimming training in
March 1927
3
Buildings: Patchell Plaza; Woodford Patchell was
an early pioneer in Kerang and claimed to be the first practical irrigator in
Victoria
4
Commemoration plaques; Scattered throughout the
town, including commemoration to long-standing service to the community
such as
in Victoria Street; 122 years of retail service to Kerang and District by the
Hawthorne family.
Landscape
Kerang is located at the
transition point between diverse landscape types.
To the north and west is
the Mallee, a complex and diverse array of shrubs and small trees, with
National Parks that are the focus of re-wilding projects and regeneration
programs following the region’s past agricultural uses.
To the northwest and
close to Kerang are spectacular lakes and lagoons. These are believed to have
the most populous ibis rookeries in the world with an estimated 200,000 of
these birds using the region for breeding each year. Many of the wetlands have
been internationally recognized and are included in the North Victorian
Wetlands Important Bird Areas and listed under the Ramsar Convention. Kerang’s
symbol is the flying ibis. The lakes have tourism potential which is relatively
untapped.
To the north, east and
south are the irrigation districts – rich farming plains used to grow a diverse
range of grains and other food products as well as supporting beef and dairy
cattle, lambs and pork production.
The Loddon River ,
a tributary of the Murray
Built form
There are a number of
heritage buildings in the town including the Court House, the Post Office, the
Municipal Chambers, the London Chartered Bank, the Memorial Clock Tower and the
Lester Smith Lookout Tower.
These significant
buildings enhance the CBD particularly along Wellington Street, the primary
east/west route, and Victoria Street, the heart of the CBD.
The Kerang Hotel, on the
corner of Wellington and Nolan Streets, built in 1929, was a local landmark and
a valued business for locals and visitors. This hotel was partially destroyed
by fire on 7 September 2013.
At the time of writing
this report, the future of the hotel is uncertain in terms of its restoration
or reconstruction. However its location at a major entry point to the town and
within the precinct linking recreation, health and wellbeing and the centre of
town requires that thought be given to the site both in its reconstruction
phase and whilst it remains vacant.
Most of the other
buildings in town are modest in size and no more than two storeys. Larger
premises containing major retailers such as the Safeway supermarket and Target
are also major features in the town and the visual presentation of the premises
and operational practices impact on the townscape.
The
Kerang Hotel, on the corner of Wellington and Nolan Streets was partially
destroyed by fire on 7 September 2013. The hotel, built in 1929, was a local
landmark and a valued business for locals and visitors. At the time of writing
this report,the future of the hotel is uncertain in terms of its restoration or
reconstruction. However its location at a major entry point to the town and
within the precinct linking recreation, health and wellbeing and the centre of
town requires that thought be given to the site both in its reconstruction
phase and whilst it remains vacant.
Energy
Solar power
Gannawarra Shire’s
ambition is to be Victoria’s premier renewable energy Council.
Without current access
to natural gas infrastructure, Gannawarra Shire is reliant on electricity being
generated from non-renewable and highly polluting brown coal, which accounts
for approximately 90% of Victoria’s consumption.
The Shire is considered
an ideal location for efficient and renewable energy from solar power. It is
one of the sunniest, driest parts of Australia and the high solar radiation
levels combined with the area’s relatively well-developed electricity
transmission infrastructure facilitates the delivery of predictable and
reliable solar power generation with minimal transmission loss.
In 2012 Council granted
planning permission for an ultra-efficient solar power system that concentrates
solar power from a field of mirrors onto an array of super-efficient solar
cells on a central tower. At 30 megawatts,
the solar farm will be the largest in Australia and the largest solar
photovoltaic plant connected to the national electricity grid.
Green power is now used
on 100% of all street lighting and 25% of all Council buildings.
This new energy source
uses infrastructure that can become a signature for Kerang and be represented
within the town as well as on the investment sites.
Kerang has high solar irradiation levels - being one of the sunniest,
driest parts of Australia.
Source: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/energy/sustainable-energy/solar-energy
Solar power represents a future investment markey for the shire.
Streetscape palette
The trees, plants, street furniture,
lighting and signage create a palette of elements that are required to ensure a
safe, comfortable and attractive town. The existing palette is diverse and,
whilst many items have individual merit, many are degraded and together they
present an inconsistent look and feel for the town that detracts from
establishing a clear identity.
Street tree species are diverse; street
corner and central plantings are inharmonious. Arbors are not located according
to any logical pattern and seating is often now located at sites that are not
conducive to rest and socialization. Some furniture, bins and planter boxes are
aged and lower the profile of the town as a quality environment.
Some mature trees provide much needed shade
and are useful and attractive. Whilst they might be sited poorly in relation to
new opportunities and changed priorities, they are worth retaining for their
character, functionality and visual appeal.
Key places
The Investigation exposed a number of key
places that require attention.
The murray valley highway entry
The Murray Valley Highway presently
separates Atkinson Park and the town’s CBD.
Physically it restricts movement between the sport and recreation and
other precincts, which is becoming problematic with increasing usage of
Atkinson Park for play and events.
There is little encouragement for
vehicles approaching town to slow down sufficiently to meet the needs of
pedestrians, making crossing here difficult and deterring visitors in vehicles
from entering the CBD.
Neither does the entry match that from
Koondrook where the street tree planting supports the speed limits and creates
a natural inducement for vehicles to slow. The wide expansive agricultural
plains giving way to denser road-edge planting signifies an arrival into town.
The centre
Victoria Street between
Scoresby and Wellington Streets is the active centre of town. It is the heart
of the CBD.
·
It
is where many of the most visited shops are located
·
The
civic buildings are in this block
·
Cafes
and displays provide an active streetscape
·
The
large tree outside the Civic Centre provides welcome shade and a leafy beauty.
However, the heritage
buildings are not celebrated and, as the location for the courthouse, ‘court
day’ brings activity that is viewed in a negative light. The plantings are seen
as tired and of poor quality and the paving material is out-of-date and hard to
clean. The street crossing is not defined. Seasonal street decorations do not
reflect the celebratory ambience that residents and business owners think would
enhance the CBD social experience. Patchell Plaza is poorly signed as a place
to find amenities such as toilets and tourism information. The space is not
optimized - the walk through is a dark corridor and the basement is not
attractive as a business location.
Wellington street
Wellington Street is a
major entry street for Kerang.
·
It
gives a first impression from the Murray Valley Highway and from Koondrook
·
Part
of it falls within the CBD.
·
The
streetscape does not encourage browsing
·
The
heritage buildings in the street are not celebrated.
Scoresby street
Scoresby Street is an
entry street and part of the CBD.
·
It
links the railway station with the town centre
·
The
toilets are hidden and of poor quality
·
Between
Victoria and Fitzroy Streets it has a busy retail side to the north and is part
of the CBD
·
It
is the location for a large vacant, publically owned site on the south side,
currently cut off with a solid fence
The vacant block is seen
as having potential for CBD use, either for dining or retail. It could be
activated as part of a revitalization plan to increase its value and use as a
public asset.
Fitzroy street
Fitzroy Street is
acknowledged as a street which is not quite part of the CBD.
·
It
is bounded at one end by Grey’s bakery, a significant retail site seen as a key
destination for residents and visitors
·
It
is the location for key community services
·
Its
role in providing some longer term car parking is important
·
It
links to the cultural and recreation zone beyond the supermarket
·
Vehicle access and existing angled parking is valued and
should be retained
·
There are few street awnings and little shade
·
The
empty sites are seen as eyesores. The old sheds though still in use are
recognised as inappropriate for a modern town centre. The road is wide and
there is little planting. The pavements are wide but of poor quality. The
parking area is poorly lit at night.
The carparks
Kerang workers and
shoppers drive their cars to town as many of them live at a distance from the
centre and in summer the weather is not conducive to walking. Car parking is
seen as critical to the success of the CBD as a place to shop, visit major
services and dine.
·
It
is acknowledged that there are needs for both short-term and longer-term
parking for workers and shoppers.
·
Shade
for cars is sought in summer. However, whilst shade is valued, it is not
welcome as an alternative to a car parking space
·
The
car park that has grown at the rear of Target is recognised as private land but
is much used
There are insufficient
facilities for specialist needs such as parking for trucks and trailers, for
Recreational Vehicles and for vehicles pulling caravans. Safety is an issue and
the Target car park is viewed as a less safe area of town.
Toilets
There are a number of
toilet facilities around town – in Scoresby Street, within Patchell Plaza, and
near the Safeway supermarket.
·
These
are seen as necessary for locals and tourists
·
They
encourage walking and need to be spaced accordingly
·
The
Scoresby Street block is identified as feeling less safe
Patchell Plaza Toilets
Scoresby Street Toilets
Public Toilets adjacent
supermarket carpark
Scoresby Street Toilets Toilets behind Court House
The missing links
There are a number of
amenities that might be expected in a CBD that are identified as missing in
Kerang:
·
A
place to socialise: places for groups to sit and where it will be safe for
children
·
A
path through the shops: a path that allows better access across the CBD,
without having to walk around the block
·
A
place for young people: a place where youth can gather and enjoy informal
recreation that is not sport related
·
A
place to eat: a café or restaurant with a relaxed but different offer to a
hotel or take-away
·
A
place to visit: somewhere to go, providing for seasonal events or activities
especially at weekends
·
An
attraction for tourists: an identity for Kerang that celebrates/differentiates
the place, events that bring new visitors, a celebration of heritage and of a
revitalized region
·
A
place for cyclists: amenities that might attract this growing market, cycle
trails, parking, events
·
A
place for arts: amenities that support the arts and make them more visible in
town
