Our Towns Sustainable Centres Program

KandangaNovember 2013

Our Towns: Sustainable Centres Program - Kandanga

Introduction Gympie is a region of communities with a rich and vibrant history and, importantly, a future.

With the City of Gympie at its core, the network of rural and coastal communities provide important economic

support and employment to residents, and offer choice in lifestyle and residential living. There is pride in what has

been sustained in the communities, having faced difficulties in the last decade.

Nothing is taken for granted; and with an eye to the future, the Gympie Regional Council has embarked on a

program to improve the sustainability of the rural and coastal communities through streetscape and public space

beautification and improvement.

This is a summary of the report for the first stage of the OUR TOWNS – Sustainable Centres Program, focusing

on Kandanga prepared by METER. The full OUR TOWNS report (August 2013) also includes Kilkivan, which is

the subject of another summary document.

Methodology The Methodology was connected to the major themes of,

developing an understanding of the physical context and interrelations in Kandanga;

respect for local community pride; and

public engagement and ownership.

The stages to undertake the project were an Inception Stage, where team members familiarised themselves

with background and context information and conducted a “study tour”; a Site Analysis Stage; an Opportunity

and Issues Stage; Preliminary Strategies Sketchbook Stage; Draft Concepts Stage; Community Consultation

Stage; review and Feedback Stage; and Final Draft.

Location of Kandanga and its proximity to Gympie and to Kilkivan

Community Consultation

Formal Community Survey Results Invitations delivered by mail to residents invited everyone to a “shopfront” in the main street of Kandanga. Held over four hours on a Saturday, plans and sketches displayed ideas, opportunities and draft recommendations. The morning was well attended throughout. Council and consultant representatives answered questions and guided attendees.

Formal survey forms were attached to the invitations, and a summary of the feedback results are pictured below.

Questions 1 and 2

Question 1 and 2 from Kandanga Survey

Question 3

Appraisal: Kandanga's Strengths and Weaknesses

Good Community Facilities (Pool, Tennis Courts, Park, Playing Field, Bowling): The town

is well serviced by an excellent range of community recreational amenities and has plans for

further development of new facilities.

RV site: The existing RV site appears to be successful and popular. Facilities are basic and

further improvement is likely to be of value.

Parking and circulation at the Post Office: Current parking arrangements are informal and

suit the casual character of the street. Some further organisation of parking however may assist

in ensuring improved outcomes for pedestrians, and provide opportunities for shade and street

trees.

ANZAC memorial: As an important part of the towns history and culture, the ANZAC memorial

occupies an important place in the story of the town. The site however has been impacted by

uncontrolled parking and vegetation regrowth, and would benefit from being re-established

visually and physically within its setting.

Top of Town: The crest of the hill outside the pub serves to limit the apparent activity of the

town. However the station and museum precinct on the lower levels is a key part of the town

experience and improvements to the linkage, both physically and visually, would be desirable.

The station precinct: The markets and Gympie Rattler are unique aspects of the towns

character.

Main Street: As the central spine of the Town, Main Street is compact and strongly defined by

topography and private garden vegetation. The sloping embankments on either side however

lead to difficulties of pedestrian movement and maintenance of edge areas such as lawns and

retaining walls. Attractive concrete step features are elements which reinforce the unique

character of this street.

Playing fields and lower areas: With flooding and drainage issues in mind the lower areas of

town are constrained in their development. However they provide an important recreation and

environmental amenity that provides opportunities for further enhancement and visitor access.

Community Pride: The community has traditionally been one which has been celebrated for the

strength of its cohesion and civic pride. Some challenges to this arose through the recent

changes of ownership of key sites. Planning should take advantage of a resurgence in

community pride and commitment to improvement.

Difficulty of Access: The junction with Mary Valley Road provides easy access to the town.

Signage could be improved to indicate the attractions of the town to passing traffic. The Kann

Park information sign is a valuable location but could provide more detail given its location.

Overall signage would benefit from better coordination. The apparent high speed of some traffic

in town especially heavy vehicles and the need for safe crossing for pedestrians suggested

priority action in this area.

Creekside walk and planting: The attractive creekside environment is not easily accessed by

casual walkers and further enhancement could be investigated, acknowledging the difficulties of

the flooding regime in this area.

Opportunities for Kandanga a) Supporting social and economic growth

Opportunity for a mix of housing and new community facilities

Physical expansion of the Arts Community

Mary River Festival is an important focus for the community

Focus the town centre around Main Street

Come Out To Play program provides a platform for marketing the town

b) Reinforcing Community Pride

Opportunities to enhance Heritage interpretation

Maintenance of the roadside banks of Main Street need to be addressed

Community Events can display the art and environment concerns of the town

c) Physical Enhancement

Review event and RV facilities

Signage and interpretation could be added

Review Main Street footpaths

Improve town signage

Kann Park eroded edges addressed

Improve the surrounds of the ANZAC memorial

The Rattler is an important link to the wider tourism experience

d) Movement and Connections

New pedestrian crossings or refuges at the school and near the junction with Amamoor Road

Access with the town to the creek with pedestrian links and short trails

Pub road turning facility

Access between upper levels and Museum / station addressed

Some organisation of parking at the post office and vistors centre

Speed limit enforced

e) Environment and Landscape

Enhance the creek and lower flat area

Recommendations Suggested Projects Shown opposite, the proposed actions for Kandanga include:

Pocket park, shade tree planting and terracing overlooking RV area Carparking outside post office and improvements to landscape works New pedestrian crossing or refuge outside post office Improved setting for Anzac memorial Improvements to landscape, lookout, interpretation and accessible

walkway to the lower station and museum areas Signage and interpretation (various)

Other Tasks

Investigate turning facility for buses etc on lower levels near Museum; Investigate structural issues associated with retaining wall under pub; Investigate detailed footpath accessibility and driveway

crossing levels along Main Street; Support community building events such as community

tree planting; Kandanga character photography artwork competition, drive-in movies on playing fields, etc

Contact Information

For further information on the OUR TOWNS: Sustainable Centres Program - Kandanga, please contact Council's Planning Strategy and Major Projects Branch on (07) 5481 0644 or alternatively email planningprojects@gympie.qld.gov.au