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Town Centre design 'in character' or 'on trend'?

23/9/2022

Community feedback
The Cassowary Coast Regional council is calling for community feedback on the draft final design for the Mission Beach town centre. The concept drawings can be seen below.

The concept was presented at a meeting of the Mission Beach Town Centre Revitalisation Project Community and Stakeholder Reference Group (CSRG) on Monday 12th September. A well attended public viewing of the plans was held at the Village Green on Friday 16th.

The role of the CSRG is for members to keep their networks informed and give feedback to the Council via C7even marketing group. The council says it "will consult the CSRG regularly to gain independent, honest and constructive feedback".

The concept drawings are very difficult to put into perspective. The scale of the drawings is unrealistic, showing an open plaza with hundreds of people.

The landscape architect told the group he wanted to create something 'on trend'. The result is a design with jarring hard edges, straight lines and excessive use of concrete.

It's hard to see how the drawings reflect the low key character of Mission Beach; of villages set in rainforest by the sea. There doesn't appear to be any consideration given to designing in a World Heritage setting. The process of consultation to this point is highly questionable with the Initial community feedback totally ignored in both the orginal and final concept designs.

THIS IS YOUR TOWN CENTRE
Please take the time to send your feedback to the Cassowary Coast Regional Council at;
[email protected]

Below is the considered comments from Mission Beach Cassowaries (MBC) as a CSRG member.

Porter Promenade
The concept includes an upgrade of Porter Promenade for a short distance north and south of Campbell Street and at the intersection of Campbell Street itself. It's great to see this section of road redesigned to create more of a town centre by slowing traffic and introducing more vegetation including trees shown below.
The drawings show hard edged regimented raised concrete plant boxes. The trees will be potted size not mature.
MBC Comments

In keeping with the World Heritage and natural character of Mission Beach, priority should be given to planting species endemic to the basalt soils of Mission Beach.
Instead of hard edged, regimented concrete boxes, the road could 'meander' through the village with 'garden' beds being placed in an informal manner to create a more 'natural' feel. People have often commented they would like to see the same treatment given to the road through the village as in Collins Avenue in Cairns.

Eating Pods
The restaurant 'eating pods' will be a mixture of laser cut metal shade structures and hard covers. A larger laser cut metal shade structure is planned for the centre of the existing 'green' as a performance area. These structures, even with vines growing over them would be hot to sit under and don't take into account Mission Beach's reputation as having one of the highest rainfalls in Australia.

MBC comments:

It would be more practical given the rainfall and temperatures and more in keeping with the low key village character to make any restaurant extensions hard shelters.

Village Green
The unusual white concrete 'shapes' appearing through the village green represent sand dunes - in line with the theme 'Rainforest to the Reef'. The extension of eating areas, 'dune sculptures', mounding of the small lawn areas along with the extensive use of concrete including raised concrete seating areas, clutter and reduce usable public space.
All vegetation is to be removed and replaced with immature (potted) trees.

The Village Green is a smal intimate space. The drawings are grossly out of scale. What is shown is not only out of character with the low key village atmosphere, it is not achieveable.
MBC comments:

'Dune sculptures' should be removed and level lawn areas maximised.
Reduce the amount of concrete particularly avoid raised concrete walls for seating.
The Mission Beach sign should be exluded.
Existing trees should be transplanted or field grown mature trees planted. (If there is not enough funds in the project budget, the community should be given the choice of raising funds for this purpose).
Creative locally designed chairs and tables strategically placed under the shade throughout the Village Green. (see examples below from Cairns Botanic garden). The community should be further consulted on furniture design.

Rainforest meets the reef - Ulyssess Park

David Street Area
The village Green is to be extended to the end of David Street (Past the Shrubbery). Parking bays are to be removed with access provided for deliveries and residences along the esplanade. The concept includes a viewing/entertainment deck and beach retaining wall over the drain exit and along the beach. The infrastructure will require removal of littoral vegetation.
MBC comments:

No removal of native vegetation from the littoral zone
Remove viewing platform. Infrastructure should not be considered in the erosion zone.
Rehabilitation of the littoral zone. Emphasising and presenting the transition between the rainforest and the reef should be an essential part of the plan. (See Ulysses Park character)
The same low key 'natural' design of shade trees, grass, meandering pathways in David Street would create a continuity of the existing 'Green'.
The culvert could be redesigned to incorporate some basalt boulders to disguise the beach drain outlet if it is considered ugly; or a small base for a set of seats and table under shade of existing vegetation could be considered. Meaningful community input should be sought on any of these 'character changing' aspects of the upgrade.
The Foreshore Mangement Plan states;

Vision; the council and community show leadership in the protection, restoration and sustainable use of the Greater Mission Beach foreshore and work together to preserve and manage the foreshore for its significant contribution to Mission Beach being renowned as a unique World Heritage Area and one of the best ecotourism destinations in the world
"The foreshore is cuturally significant and highly valued by the Djiru Traditional Owners"
"The foreshore is high valued for underpinning the identity, landscape character, scenic amenity and tropical lifestyle of its residents".
"The foreshore is valued for its function as a protective buffer against coastal hazards'"
"...the sustainable use of our foreshore achieves a careful balance between the protection of our high heritage value and pristine beaches in a natural state while allowing for appropriate recreation'"
" The foreshore is recognised as being essential for naturally occuring coastal and ecological porcesses'"
"...best practice foreshore management and recognising that conserevation, social values and economic wellbeing are firmly interdependent'
"The values and features are the foundation of a vibrant and sustainable tourism industry that protects and celebrates the unique natural values and toruism assets of Mission Beach".
"Maintaining and enhancing the scenic amentiy and landscape characger values of the foreshore is very important'
The ongoing protection and stabilisation of the foreshore through best practice vegetation management and not placing people, infrastructure or development at unacceptable risk from coastal hazards is vital to the ecological, economic and social wellbeing of our communities now and into the future".

Foreshore Management Plan Greater Mission Beach

Draft Final Concept Plan

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Mission Beach Town Centre Revitalisation Project

17/9/2022

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Background
The Mission Beach Village is built over the top of a waterway. The drainage system goes under Porters Promenade down the right side of the Village Green onto the beach at the end of David Street. The infrastructure has been in urgent need of repair for over ten years when holes appeared in the road at the intersection of Porters Promenade and Campbell St as drain pipes started collapsing.

Mission Beach Master Plan
In August 2018 community feedback was sought for a Master Plan for Mission Beach. The scope of the project was to be from Seaview Street to Boyett Road including the arboretum and Ulysses Park.

In March 2019 'key community stakeholders' were invited to a workshop where CCRC presented the results of the feedback. Following the workshop the public was then invited to make comment through a 'have your say' on the CCRC website.

The message received was unabiguous and consistent with decades of meeting and workshop outcomes on 'what makes Mission Beach special'. The local community is well aware of the special social and environmental values of Mission Beach. For the most part that is why they choose to live there.

Limited Community input into draft Concept Plan
The key stakeholders didn't have any further involvement in the design process. Another 'stakeholder' group was formed comprising the Village Green business owners who worked exclusively with LA3, the architects contracted for the concept design.

It appears LA3 is the preferred architects for projects within the Cassowary Coast. The same business has been engaged for several other projects including the Bingil Bay Picnic Area and the Cardwell Foreshore. The standards used by LA3 do not include expertise or understanding of design within a world heritage setting where it is crucial the urban environment does not dominate the sensitive world heritage values.

Following the release of LA3's concept plan in July 2019 the then Mission Beach Tourism manager and representatives from Mission Beach Cassowaries and C4 met with CCRC Planner Byron Jones to voice their concerns the design was out of character with everything Mission Beach represents.

The draft Final Design does not reflect community vision
Funding was secured for the project in July 2022. In September a Reference Group was formed with members chosen on a merit basis to represent a cross section of the community (including Mission Beach Cassowaries). The final design has now been presented for feedback at the first meeting of the Reference Group and to the general public.

It is alarming to note the draft final design does not;

reflect any of the discussion at the July 2019 meeting,
recognise the unique and character defining features that underpin Mission Beach community identity and visitor appeal or;
Reflect wider community feedback.

Was the Foreshore Management Plan referenced at all during the design?

Did the architect or any of the stakeholders have any understanding of designing in a World Heritage setting?

Were some of the features included in the final design such as the viewing deck reflecting a personal view to hide the 'ugly' drain rather than a practical need sensitive to the natural environment setting?

Bingil Bay Picnic Area - What part of NATURAL wasn't understood?
An example of how the same urban design and generic architectural approach can permanently change the natural amenity of a place was in 2012 with the post Cyclone Yasi upgrade of the Bingil Bay Picnic area. The original plan was rejected outright by the Bingil Bay community who had made it clear they only wanted a minor upgrade and to 'keep it natural'. The second design wasn't much better but the community were tired of waiting and "it didn't look so bad".

The final design saw the natural lay of the dune benched and concreted. The result is a hard edged stepped area where magnificent callophyllom trees now create a safety hazard by dropping their large round seeds on the concrete surface surrounding they trunks. The beach almond seeds stain the concrete requiring increased maintenance. There is now no opportunity for natural process to occur on this part of the dune. Once a vibrant community meeting place, the picnic area is no longer used by the Bingil Bay locals since it was concreted and the wooden seats replaced with metal ones.

Fast forward 10 years to the Mission Beach Town Centre Revitalisation Project. The same architect with the exact same urban approach which might look ok on a marine boulevard somewhere in Dubai, Brisbane or even Maroochydore but could not be more out of character for a place like Mission Beach.

Bottom Line
The CCRC media release gives an insight into the councils fundamental focus. The town centre upgrade would not be happening but for the failing infrastructure that is now in desperate need of repair. The CCRC makes it clear in their media release their motivation beyond drainage work is to attract investors, not a well needed uplift of our town centre, for the community and visitors.

The designs have ignored community input.
The concept drawings are misleading,
grossly out of scale
and not achievable.

Mission Beach is not just another urban space.
A special place requires special consideration, not a generic hard edged 'on trend' urban design that could be anywhere.

The only special treatment required is to reflect the village character and to protect the natural environment - where the rainforest meets the sea.

The Mission Beach Village Green;
Does need;

Rehabilitation of foreshore and beach access to repair a degaded dune and to present the natural transition between rainforest and sea.
A more 'organic' as opposed to a hard edged 'on trend' approach to the design.
More trees to provide natural shade (full consideration must be given to the removal and replacemnet of existing trees.
Ground level and level lawn areas
Hard shelters for restaurant eating area extensions

Does not need;

A viewing deck, that permanently destroys the inegrity of the littoral zone that necessitates a concrete retaining wall in the erosion zone.
Pseudo sand dune 'sculptures' to reflect rainforest to the sea 'theme' (Mission Beach doesn't have sand dunes and the rainforest to the sea is already there).
Excessive use of concrete with raised areas that minimise usable area.
Laser cut metal shade shelters
A huge Mission Beach sign above the shops

Could have;

Bespoke furrniture designed and made locally
Existing trees transplanted and mature trees used in Village Green upgrade.
A more organic/natural approach to the design including the shape of Porters Promenade

Will the architects, the marketing agents and council representatives meaningfully listen to the feedback that this design does not reflect the natural World Heritage amenity and the low key character of a village set in rainforest by the sea?

Or will we be forever left with a town centre where community members and visitors will once again ask "What part of natural was not understood?"