Upper MPC Shared Trail Feasibility

The key deliverables for this project are:

• A feasibility study that assesses the best location and costs for the shared path, start/end point for the trail and for embedding EcoArt and cultural information into the design.

It is proposed that the consultant would undertake the following tasks:

1. Review and collate existing information, including existing flora and fauna reports, cultural heritage studies, planning overlays, land ownership and others (e.g. family history of Woodlands Park for information about the early Aboriginal association with this area) as required.
2. Assess the options of continuing the shared path along the MPC where shown on the map or other options further from the Creek that would allow a wide buffer to protect the Creek’s natural attributes, of particular value in this section.  Access points and associated costs would need to be taken into consideration.
3. Assess 1-2 options for sites for a start/end of the Shared Path with signage, including locations and costs.
4. Investigate suitable trail specifications in consideration of the overall trail and landscape context and environmental parameters. (The latter including consideration of a wide vegetation buffer between the path and the Creek to protect its natural attributes.)
5. Identify important nodes of interest that would enhance the visitor experience that the trail could link to.
6. Analyse any issues or barriers relevant to the alignment, such as legislation, land ownership, topography and cultural or environmental parameters.
7. Utilise existing information to help evaluate the options, and determine what further assessments or land licensing, etc, may need to take place.
8. Analyse any opportunities relevant to the alignment, such as ways to incorporate / embed EcoArt*, enhancing nodes of interest and cultural and environmental information where possible and as appropriate.
9. Include the assumptions made to assess the feasibility and to calculate the costs.

*EcoArt is defined as ‘the confluence of art and ecology in its concern with the preservation, remediation and revitalisation of habitats.'  T.J. Demos, 2009, Contemporary Art and the Politics of Ecology

Project Group members include: Damien Harrison (Hume CC), Steve Cantwell (Parks Vic), Ryan van den Hove (Melbourne Water), Frank Kinnersley (Moonee BUG/FoMPC), Katie Fox (DELWP) and Rachel Lopes (Chain of Ponds)

Site Walk #1 - Project Group

Site Walk #2 - Wurundjeri Elders, Local Community and Project Group

Project Manager: Rachel Lopes - Chain of Ponds Collaboration Lead, Greater Western Water