The WalKyneton project will improve the Campaspe River Walk in Kyneton.
This project has been made possible thanks to $300,000 in funding from the Healthy Heart of Victoria initiative to improve pathways and facilities that encourage physical activity along the river walk.
WalKyneton has used the 2019 Active Living Census to identify community members who are less likely to meet physical activity guidelines and those who rarely use public footpaths, such as adolescent females, older adults, people with poor physical or mental health, people with a disability, and people who identify as LGBTQIA+. We are now working closely with identified community representatives to understand how we can design more safe, inclusive, accessible and active spaces.
The project includes funding to:
- link the existing shared path along the Campaspe River to the Kyneton Community Park within the botanic gardens
- construct paths to connect the river walk with new exercise equipment and other places of interest
- design and deliver amenities, programs and resources to attract people to use the upgraded path and equipment.
Construction of the path extension
The extension of the Campaspe River Walk into the Kyneton Community Park will no longer be delivered as part of the WalKyneton Project, however Council is continuing to secure the necessary permits and plans to complete the path extension in future.
Place-making to make outdoor exercise more accessible, inclusive and safe
The project focusses on place-making to make the outdoor exercise equipment more accessible, inclusive and safe for people of all ages and abilities.
We have completed facility upgrades to St Agnes Place in Kyneton so that the outdoor fitness station and surrounding area can be used by people of all ages and abilities. These changes include a water station, paths to connect exercise equipment to footpath, accessible seating and solar lighting.
Co-design project
The WalKyneton co-design project has commenced with the first meeting of the group held on 14 February 2020 at the Kyneton Community House.
The small co-design working group will:
- Plan and deliver an amenity improvement project that will enhance the existing Campaspe River Walk precinct (including the soon to be opened fitness area).
- Plan and deliver one event or activity that will encourage local people and specific groups in the community to increase their knowledge and usage of the Campaspe River Walk.
- Provide feedback to Council that will map possible future amenities and their locations along the river walk. These future amenities have already been identified by community members as good ideas that aim to improve the river walk.
- Participate in an evaluation of the co-design process, including what worked, what didn't, and how we can improve future co-design processes in future.
Members of the working group represent different local community groups and a broad range of perspectives, helping Council understand how to get more people, more active, more often.
Progress update: February to April 2020
We held three workshops with the working group in February and March.
- The first workshop concentrated on laying the groundwork for the project and the Working Group and included agreeing on how we will work together, hearing about the background research underpinning the project and identifying what success will look like.
- The second workshop involved a walk along the Campaspe River followed by a brainstorming discussion of ideas and opportunities.
- In the third workshop people shared examples of walking paths / trails and agreement was reached about the areas of focus / priorities for the proposed River Walk infrastructure.
Following the third working group, we:
- agreed to focus on the 1km section of the river walk between the fitness equipment and Quarry Reserve.
- agreed on the following priorities:
- signage (directional, distance, locational signage)
- signage (interpretive, tactile / sensory and virtual)
- seating / table furniture
- landscaping (aesthetic, shade, indigenous, interactive, sensory)
- the creation of spaces to support different activities e.g. yoga and meditation.
- Measured distances and mapped the key infrastructure and connection points along the river walk between the fitness equipment and Quarry Reserve.
- Sourced preferred styles of street furniture and signage.
Progress update: May to July 2020
Plans were initially put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. We contacted co-design members in July to find out the best way to proceed. A slightly smaller group will continue to progress the plans online and by phone.
Progress update: August to September 2020
The co-design group is now working towards two specific areas of focus:
- The 1km stretch from Quarry Reserve to the exercise equipment, providing a template in best practice for signage, seating, landscaping that could be applied to the remainder of the river walk and other trails within the shire.
- Interactive signage and storytelling to ‘activate’ the trail walk. This will have a focus on cultural heritage.
We have gathered valuable feedback from local organisations about inclusion and access for people with a disability or chronic health condition.
Progress update: October to November 2020
A landscape architecture firm (Andrea Proctor Landscapes) has been appointed and has met with the co-design group.
Andrea Proctor Landscapes will design and map features of the interactive and accessible trail walk, such as accessible seating, shade, plantings and other features. The plan will create spaces for activity, social interaction and meditation. It will also consider sensory and interactive features.
Tasks from here include:
- Continue to engage Traditional Owners
- Finalise the plan for landscaping
- Evaluate and document the co-design process and learnings
- Implement stage 1 of the landscape design
- Install signage
- Launch and publicise the new space