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The Kempsey Corridor Master PlanSouth Kempsey | Kempsey | Frederickton August 2012

Chapter 1: Inception Background 1Overview 1Structure 2Principles 3

Chapter 2: Gathering Vision - Aspiration, Inspiration and Values 4Framework for Community Engagement 4The Consultation Program 5The Traffic Study 6The Economic Study 8

Chapter 3: Interpretation Consultation Outcomes 12Key Findings 13

Chapter 4: Distillation Refining the Vision 19Principles for Design 19Redefining the Corridor 21

Chapter 5: The Master Plan The Corridor as an Event 2230 Key Projects 35Acknowledgements 42

Contents

1 Background Issues Paper on the Kempsey Bypass. Macroplan 20102 Kempsey Bypass Strategy. Kempsey Shire Council 2011

Chapter 1: Inception

BackgroundThis document provides a framework for the planning and development of the former Pacif ic Highway corridor section from the village of South Kempsey, to the town of Kempsey and through to the village of Frederickton.

Spanning a distance of 14 kilometres, the bypass of the former Route 1 corridor gained planning approval in 2008. Construction of the f irst stage South Kempsey to Frederickton deviation commenced in 2010.

In 2009 Kempsey Shire Council engaged Macroplan Pty Ltd to prepare a Background Issues Paper1 on the bypass, outlining predicted impacts of the deviation on the town and villages, and advocating possible remedial strategies. Consequently, in late 2010 Council prepared a Bypass Strategy based on the Macroplan document, which outlined twelve key programs for action.

The Bypass Strategy2 acts as the foundation document for establishing the principles, aims and objectives, key tasks and goals required to transition the community from a strong highway focus, to one where it becomes less significant in the day-to-day life of the town of Kempsey and villages of South Kempsey and Frederickton.

Early in the strategy development phase, key areas were identified as important in assisting in the transition, including communication and participation, urban design and economic development.

Refinement of the framework identified three integrated streams. These underpin the delivery program and shape the structure of this Master Plan.

The three streams are:

• community engagement and participation

• place making and urban design, and

• economic development and community prosperity.

Together they create the structural blueprint for the Master Plan.

OverviewThe Master Plan is a comprehensive strategic document that establishes the guidelines for the future direction of infrastructure provision, service and development along the South Kempsey to Frederickton corridor.

The Master Plan aims to establish an urban design model for the corridor, with particular emphasis on the villages of South Kempsey and Frederickton and the town centre of Kempsey. It’s objectives are to achieve:

• a framework for the revitalisation of the retail economy of the Kempsey town centre, and the villages of South Kempsey and Frederickton

• fresh opportunities for innovative business and job creation industries along the corridor

• reinforcement and conservation of the natural and cultural environmental heritage of the corridor, and

• improvements to the urban environment for the long-term wellbeing of the community.

The Master Plan is the first Council document of its type to investigate the future planning and design direction for a continuous “ribbon” between South Kempsey and Frederickton. In doing so, Council provides a framework for the long-term creation of a sustainable and economically prosperous community.

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StructureSo how do we translate the inspirations, aspirations and values that are fostered in our community? How do we nourish their expression in the town of Kempsey and villages of Frederickton and South Kempsey?

Early examination of the Strategy revealed numerous complexities. A blueprint was required that would chart a course over time, towards a richer, more resilient and prosperous community.

The idea of developing a Master Plan for the corridor stretching from the highway interchange at South Kempsey through to the northern highway interchange at Frederickton, (a distance of around 14 kilometres), would allow for the exploration and investigation of various landscape and urban design concepts.

Urban design concerns the arrangement, appearance and functionality of towns and cities, and in particular the shaping and uses of urban public space. It is a design practice that operates at the intersection of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and civil engineering, and requires a good understanding of real estate, urban economics and community development.

Urban design deals primarily with the design and management of public space and the way public places are experienced and used. Public space includes all the spaces used freely on a day-to-day basis by the general public, including streets, plazas, parks and public infrastructure.

The development of an urban design Master Plan for the South Kempsey to Frederickton corridor ensures a comprehensive forward plan is prepared to guide future detailed precinct designs. As the term implies, the Master Plan provides the baseline, or blueprint document to direct the implementation of the precinct design program.

Significantly, the Master Plan provides Council with a means of leveraging Commonwealth and State funding for construction, community and business support programs post Bypass. Additionally, it identifies the principal open space, parklands and other public domain areas located within the corridor, where further programs can be undertaken and where management plans are required.

The Master Plan consolidates ideas with the practical functions required in an urban centre and provides a cohesive approach to their application. While the Plan’s creation is directed by Council, it is also clearly informed by community participation.

A key outcome of the Master Plan is that it provides certainty to the community. The final document should inspire community confidence and be achievable. The Master Plan will underpin the development of future Development Control Plans to be undertaken as part of the Strategy Implementation Program.

Where urban design deals primarily with design and management issues of public space, place-making drills into the strata of a community, probing the various lines of enquiry and forging collaborative partnerships over the diverse cross-currents inherent in any community, allowing legitimate community expressions to reveal themselves in the public spaces and places. Place-making informs the urban design program and provides design performance measures that can be reviewed and refined as required.

This cornerstone is underpinned by expression, action and implementation of the community’s ideals and values.

It aims to:

implement an integrated urban design and landscape Master Plan for the bypass corridor

create the context for a business enterprise and tourism corridor north from the southern interchange, and

develop a long-term plan for new urban infrastructure, including extension of the water and sewer network.

Supporting the Master Plan, will be detail designs for Frederickton and South Kempsey villages, detail design for Kempsey town centre and the key Kempsey Corridor Traffic and Transport Study.

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Principles The Principles set out the guidelines for the Master Plan and serve as reference points in measuring performance and quality. The following three principles refer to three cornerstones established early in the process and refined through the community engagement program.

Principle 1

“Reinforcing the sense of economic wellbeing, building business strength, encouraging new business and employment generation.”

The Master Plan must provide a level of confidence in the community that translates into a better retail and commercial and retail business environment and assists in refreshing existing business precincts. In many respects, the function of the Master Plan is to provide a fresh context for the community to go about their business through design initiatives that improve the way in which the villages of South Kempsey and Frederickton and the town centre of Kempsey function and work, and interact with each other and the broader community.

Improvements to our urban “hubs” set the context which generates sustainable business opportunities, creates attractive, safe and pleasant public spaces and encourages new and innovative business and retail endeavours and enterprises.

Principle 2

“Strengthening the framework of a richer, more resilient and prosperous community.”

The second principle revolves around the concepts providing a newer and more effective framework for engaging with and building partnerships with the community through design initiatives and the provision of infrastructure. “Prosperity” does not refer to economic or monetary value alone, but covers a multitude of criteria to measure the richness and prosperity of a community through the quality of its parklands, opportunities for recreation and relaxation, ease of moving from one place to another, accessibility, public artistic and cultural endeavour, diversity of public spaces, and public activity. All these can be generated through simple urban design devices that set a context for the community participation and engagement.

Principle 3

“Building a vision that draws on the inspirations, aspirations and values of the local community.”

Consultations with the local communities directly affected by the bypass, have helped the Master Plan articulate a vision that reflects community expectations. In doing so, the Plan clearly acknowledges the values of the local community that underpin it. In this respect the Master Plan does not offer single grand gestures, but a range of achievable projects that, piece by piece, will build a bolder and more resilient community structure and provide a framework for community involvement and responsibility for the identity.

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