Old Spaces, New Places - A new urban space for Albany Highway's west end

1. What is 'Old Spaces, New Places'?

'Old Spaces, New Places' (OSNP) is a program targeting locations within the Town that can be renewed and upgraded for greater community use and benefit. This program was developed following a Council resolution to investigate alternative options for the use of laneways and intersections along Albany Highway and was later broadened by the Town to include all public areas of interest, also known as the public realm. This is the third project to be progressed as part of the OSNP program and will be located along the western end of Albany Highway within Victoria Park.

2. What is the “public realm”?

The public realm refers to external publicly accessible spaces that contribute to our use and enjoyment of the outdoor environment. The public realm is also the environment that provides the connections we travel through between buildings and the internal environment. Examples of public realm environments include streets, lanes, plazas and parks.

OSNP #3 is looking at revitalising an existing public realm environment at one of three shortlisted locations (intersection environments) along Albany Highway. This could include changes or additions to the various elements that contribute to these urban spaces, including street trees and other plantings, pavement and road materials, the width and design of the road carriageway and pedestrian paths, street lighting, wayfinding signage, public art, play spaces, entry statements, seating etc.

All of these elements contribute to the public realm and combine to form unique urban spaces for the community to enjoy.

3. How is the Streets Ahead Action Plan being used to inform this project?

Local community group, The Vic Park Collective, has prepared the Streets Ahead Action Plan to advocate for incremental improvements to Albany Highway, Victoria Park and East Victoria Park.

The action plan was informed by a high level of engagement with the local community and includes a series of Quick Win, Short and Medium Term Actions to achieve a vision for the Vic Park portion of Albany Highway, coined the 'Vic Park High Street'.

Sitting proud with the glittering City lights beyond, Vic Park High Street will be a bustling destination around the clock. Drawing people from its Swan River doorstep, the Stadium and beyond, Vic Park's local flavour and history will be on show within its myriad public spaces and heritage buildings. More than just a place to tantalise the tastebuds, it will be an entertainment hub and a place that attracts all generations to the street through welcoming, social and fun public spaces.

While not an adopted strategy of the Town of Victoria Park, the Town has been actively progressing and considering a broad range of the actions advocated by Streets Ahead, which includes the delivery of public realm improvements and/or new urban spaces at key intersections within Victoria Park along Albany Highway.

The Town has considered these actions as part its third Old Spaces, New Places project, and has arrived at the nominated shortlist of three potential locations for the delivery of a public realm improvement and new urban space.

A link to the Streets Ahead Action Plan is provided in the 'Important Links' widget on the main project page.

4. What Town Strategies is this project aligned with?

Old Spaces New Places Project #3 is aligned with the actions contained in the Town’s adopted Public Open Space Strategy, Urban Forest Strategy and Draft Place Plan for Victoria Park. These advocate for public realm improvements to Albany Highway that promote active transport modes, increased greening and tree canopy, tourism and recreation opportunities, local employment and street activation.

This project is also consistent with the ‘Revive’ and ‘Thrive’ initiatives contained in the ‘Restart Vic Park’ COVID-19 Response Strategy, which aim to support investment and reactivation of the local economy, and support social connection and interaction.

These strategies and the Draft Place Plan can be accessed from the ‘Document Library’ or ‘Important Links’ widgets on the main project page.

5. What are the three shortlisted locations?

Three potential locations for the delivery of a new urban space along the western end of Albany Highway within Victoria Park have been shortlisted:

• Location 1 – The intersection of Leonard Street and Albany Highway, which interfaces with the entry to the Victoria Park Central shopping centre.
• Location 2 – The intersection of Albany Highway with Harvey Street and McMaster Street, which interfaces with Memorial Gardens
• Location 3 – The intersection of Albany Highway with Mackie Street and Rushton Street, which serves as a transition/entry point into the heart of the Victoria Park commercial, hospitality and retail precinct.

6. What are the different stages of this project?

Stage 1 Community Engagement

Old Places, New Spaces - A new urban space for Albany Highway's west end is currently at this stage

This consists of an informing survey and community "walk-shop", the results of which will feed into the development of high-level preliminary concepts for the shortlisted locations.

Review and Preliminary Concept Development

The outcomes of the community engagement will be considered and fed into the development of preliminary concepts for the shortlisted locations.

Stage 2 Community Engagement - Preferred Location Selection

The outcomes of the stage 1 engagement will be presented to the community, as well as the preliminary concepts developed for the shortlisted locations following the stakeholder "walkshops". The Town will seek feedback as to which of the shortlisted locations should be selected for delivery of a new urban space for the Vic Park Town Centre.

Review and report

The outcomes of the Stage 1 and 2 Community Engagement will be documented here. This will include a summary of all contributions collected as well as a recommendation to Council on the preferred location for a new urban space within the Vic Park Town Centre.

Council Decision - Preferred Location Confirmation

Council will determine the location to progress development of a concept plan for a public realm improvement and new urban space from the shortlisted locations.

Concept Plan Development

Development of a Concept Plan for the chosen location

Stage 3 Community Engagement - Advertising of Draft Concept Plan

Review and report

The outcomes of the Stage 3 Community Engagement will be documented here. This will include a summary of all contributions collected as well as a recommendation to Council on whether to endorse the concept design.

Council Decision - Approval of Concept Design

Council will consider the outcomes of the Stage 3 Community Engagement and determine whether to approve the prepared Concept Design.