Tender continues for Labuan Square upgrade

IT HAS been just over a year since the City of Greater Geelong asked the community for its thoughts on how to revitalise Labuan Square, and the city has a detailed design out to tender.

The city worked with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Norlane Community Initiatives and local stakeholders to redevelop the public space in Norlane.

The council allocated $250,000 in its 2019-20 budget for works in the small local shopping precinct, opened community engagement in early May 2021 and then developed a concept design between June and September.

According to the consultation process, the broad community vision was for Labuan Square to “again be a vibrant, green, attractive, friendly, accessible, and safe public space for our neighbourhood with a mix of essential and specialty shops, cafes or eateries, services, and activities – a community hub”.

Consultation also highlighted sustainable landscapes, playful elements, technology, public art, al fresco opportunities and spaces to socialise as key features the community would like to see included in the concept design.

The principal concept for Labuan Square was inspired by Cowies Creek (which is located close to Labuan Square), with the design flowing north to south and reusing the existing lawn spaces and trees as the country that the creek flows through in four distinct areas – the grassy plains of Moorabool; the basalt rocks of the gullies and steeper flowing areas; the open water, wetland and woodland areas; and the creek’s exit into the bay through the cliffs.

“The city has been engaging with stakeholders and the Norlane community to understand their vision and aims for their local space,” Windermere Ward councillor Anthony Aitken said.

“The concept plans were co-designed with the community in 2021, with detailed design progressing through the first half of this year.

“Construction tendering is under way with construction scheduled for the second half of 2022.

“We’re also hopeful of some positive announcements in the not-too-distant future about activation of some of the empty shops that border the open space areas.”