Proposed new and upgraded community facilities in Croydon and Ringwood

The proposed new and upgraded community facilities in Croydon and Ringwood are priority actions in Maroondah's Council Plan.

The suite of actions under consideration include the redevelopment of new community facilities in the Croydon Civic Precinct over stages; an upgrade of Karralyka; and a consolidation of Council’s administrative functions at an expanded Realm in the Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre.

Initial preparation for a Croydon Civic Precinct masterplan commenced over 12 months ago, and has included significant consultation with key user groups and stakeholders in the precinct. Those consultations have progressed well and a draft plan is now being developed that involves the consolidation and integration of facilities in the precinct, which proposes the establishment of two new fit for purpose Community Hub buildings.

It is proposed that the first community hub could accommodate the Croydon branch Library, Council service centre, a business hub, a centre for community well-being, all community groups currently in the precinct, as well as providing space for other community groups to call the Community Hub home.

The second proposed hub could accommodate an integrated family and children’s centre, including Maternal & Child Health services. The draft Plan is due for public consultation in the last quarter of this year.

The upgrade of Karralyka involves a proposed $10 million redevelopment which will enhance and expand the existing facility. This includes a new entrance and foyer; outdoor paved terraced area leading from the function rooms; accessibility improvements; an additional function room and a new video-conferencing board room, both of which will enable Karralyka to increase its offering for training and conferencing activity.

In addition, the many disability groups in the east that use Karralyka for functions and performances will have improved accessibility and facilities for its participants and supporters. Council is seeking funding support from the Victorian and Federal governments towards the redevelopment.

The current office buildings at Braeside Avenue, Ringwood and at Civic Square, Croydon are both over 50 years old and require extensive capital funding to bring them up to modern day standards, including digital technology, accessibility and sustainability standards. It was identified that a consolidation of administrative functions would be the most cost effective solution.

The Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre (MAC) is a location recognised by the Victorian Government for the important role it plays to both its local community, and to the outer eastern sub-regional community of Melbourne. The Ringwood MAC is second only to Melbourne CBD on the Plan Melbourne hierarchy, which identifies that activity centres should be planned to provide good access to a range of major retail, community, government, entertainment, cultural and transport services, with a focus for higher density development.

The opportunity to locate a consolidated Council administrative base within the Ringwood MAC aligns with Victorian Government objectives and provides one central location with better public transport access.

Consideration of an extension of Realm is being pursued as the facility has proven to be highly successful since its opening in October 2015 and would offer a cost-effective integration of current activities with a greater civic presence and accessibility for the community.

Realm and Ringwood Town Square were both established through an agreement that included exchanging the former Ringwood Plaza Library site for the construction of Council’s Ringwood Town Square and the 3400sqm Realm library, community and service centre, art gallery, co-working and business hub. This was successfully completed at no cost to the Maroondah community and Council would seek to achieve a similar outcome for the proposed extension of Realm.

It is expected that the three Council Plan priority actions – the first stage of a redeveloped and revitalised Croydon Civic Precinct, an upgrade to Karralyka, and a potential extension of Realm - could be implemented over the next 2 to 5 years with delivery of further stages of the Croydon Civic Precinct occurring over the next 5 to 10 years. These priority actions will be implemented without borrowing extra money, impacting rates, or any cuts to Council’s services to the Maroondah community.