Taradale Community Action Plan - Mount Alexander Shire Council

TARADALE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
JUNE 2013
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 1
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 2
CONTENTS
Page
About the Mount Alexander Shire
About Taradale
Brief Facts
Community Life and Leisure
Community Plan Background
Community Plan Process
4
5
6-7
8-9
10
11 - 13
Taradale Community Action Plan
Business and Communications
Arts, Crafts, Culture, Events
Sustainability and Skills
Facilities and Services
Beautification
Community Plan Contacts
14
15
16
17
18
19
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 3
ABOUT MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE
The original inhabitants of the Mount Alexander area were the Jaara Jaara Aboriginal people.
European settlement dates from the late 1830’s, with land used mainly for pastoral purposes,
particularly sheep grazing. Population was minimal until the 1850’s, spurred by gold mining
from 1851, the construction of the railway line, and the establishment of several townships.
Rapid growth took place into the late 1800’s before declining as gold supplies waned and mines
were closed. Relatively stable between the 1950’s and the 1980’s, the population increased
from about 12,700 in 1981 to 16,600 in 2006. The official resident population for 2010 is 17,803.
Mount Alexander Shire (MAS / the Shire) forms part of the Loddon Mallee Region (the Region),
which encompasses ten municipalities and covers nearly 59,000km2 in size, or approximately 26
percent of the land area of the State of Victoria.
The Shire is approximately 1,530km2 in size and comprises several small towns and communities
of national historic and environmental significance. The population of the Shire is quite
centralised, with approximately two thirds of the population living in the greater Castlemaine
area, including the townships of Chewton, Campbells Creek and Barkers Creek. Other primary
townships include Newstead, Maldon, Taradale and Harcourt.
Formed in 1995 from the merger of the City of Castlemaine, Shire of Newstead, most of the
Shire of Maldon and Shire of Metcalfe, Mount Alexander is divided into five wards: Calder Ward,
Castlemaine Ward, Coliban Ward, Loddon Ward and Tarrengower Ward. Castlemaine Ward has
three councillors while the other wards are represented by one councillor each.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 4
Map of Mount Alexander Shire
ABOUT TARADALE
Taradale is a small town in rural Victoria, situated on the south eastern border of Mount
Alexander Shire. It is located on the Calder Highway 103 kilometres north west of Melbourne and
47 kilometres south east of Bendigo. At the 2011 Census Taradale had a population of 464. The
population recorded at the 2006 Census was 200. It is important to note however, that the ABS
has changed its method which includes changing boundaries associated with townships.
The town is located on the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway Line, although the station was closed
in 1976. The iconic Taradale Viaduct, which carries the railway 36 metres above Back Creek, was
built between 1858 and 1862 and is still much admired today. The community celebrated the
150 year Anniversary of the opening of the Railway and Viaduct in October 2012.
Establishment of Taradale began with the discovery of gold in Central Victoria around 1851.
Because the town lies on the route between Melbourne and Castlemaine, it was used as a stopover for the famous Cobb and Co coach line which began in 1854 between Melbourne and
Bendigo.
A number of gold mining activities were carried out in and around the township itself including
washing for alluvial gold in Back Creek and the sinking of shafts. The 1850’s saw a population
peak of 5,000 or more, including 3,000 Chinese.
A petition was made to the Governor of Victoria to proclaim the Municipality of Taradale in 1861.
Named after Tarradale House in Scotland, the birthplace of Sir Roderick Murchison, many of
Taradale’s streets are also named after famous figures of the day including Charles Lyell, Michael
Faraday and Humphrey Davy.
In April 2006 the township was bypassed by the upgraded Calder Freeway with the opening of
the Malmsbury-Taradale section. As a result, a number of social and demographic changes have
occurred over and above those typical of other rural Victorian communities.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 5
Family outside their house, Taradale district, 1894
BRIEF FACTS
TARADALE
Map of Taradale (ABS Census 2011 State-suburb Boundary)
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Taradale’s 464 residents live in 188 local households, with unoccupied dwellings at 26.6% (68
dwellings). The median age of Taradale residents is 44. Taradale’s age profile is roughly aligned to
the regional Victorian average, although significantly more adults are in the 20 to 64 age group
(63.2% for Taradale compared to 56.3% for regional Victoria), and somewhat less in the 65 to 84
age group (12.6% in Taradale compared to 17.46% for regional Victoria). The female to male
ratio is even, with 232 females and males a piece.
Current migration trends indicate an annual population increase of 1.7% in the Greater Loddon
Mallee region - almost 50% greater than the average for regional Victoria overall. Most of the
projected growth is expected to be concentrated in Greater Bendigo, Macedon Ranges and
Mount Alexander. For the currently unsewered towns of Elphinstone, Taradale and Guildford an
innovative wastewater management system will be necessary to accommodate this projected
growth, as the cost to connect the towns to sewer is likely to be very high.
The 2011 Census showed there were 58 children aged between five and 14 living in Taradale,
representing 12.5% of the population. Despite this, and the projected population growth, in
March 2012 Taradale Primary School had just two enrolled students (down from 40 in 2005), a
figure the Department of Early Education and Childhood Development (DEECD) advised was not
sustainable. In a bid to boost enrolments, current principal Chris Burgess has instigated a series
of community engagement activities and partnerships and introduced a number of new
initiatives such as after-school care and local school cluster groups. These activities have already
started to have positive results; as of May 2013 enrolments have increased to 7 students. The
Taradale Community Forum continued to lobby the Department and politicians until there was a
written acknowledgement that the school would remain open and the school is not under threat
of closure. The Taradale Play Group has evolved to include the Create, Play and Connect group
which is open to any member of the community and meets weekly at the school, in a dedicated
classroom.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 6
Taradale Primary School
BRIEF FACTS
ECONOMICS:
Taradale (rural east) scores 1011.5 on the SEIFA index of disadvantage (the benchmark score being
1000) – meaning that the area is less disadvantaged than average. By comparison, Mount
Alexander Shire scores 981 on the index and Bendigo 984. 46.8% of Taradale’s population own
their homes outright (compared to a regional Victorian average of 38.3%), whilst 38% are paying
off a mortgage and 12.3% rent their home, (significantly lower than the regional Victorian average
of 22.4%). 36.6% of households earn over $1,000 per week and 26.8% earn less than $350 per
week.
Unemployment in Taradale is slightly higher than the state-wide average, sitting at approximately
6.8% compared to 5.4% for Victoria. In Taradale 49.1% of people in the labour market are
employed full time and 36.5% are employed on a part-time basis.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 7
Fryerstown Road vineyard with dam in foreground
COMMUNITY LIFE AND LEISURE
COMMUNITY GROUPS:
Taradale’s services include a primary school, post office/service station, a general store/cafe, a
combined cafe, gallery and art store, a very active Country Fire Authority, a cricket club, and local
wineries.
Recreational facilities include the newly refurbished Mechanics Institute, the Taradale Hall, the
Recreation Reserve, the Mineral Springs Reserve, and an established network of walking and
riding tracks through the surrounding forest.
Crowd at the Taradale Mineral Springs Festival
Each year in March, the Taradale Mineral Springs Festival is held over the Labour Day long
weekend. Showcasing local talent, wine, produce and crafts, the family-friendly festival attracts
around 60 stall holders and attracts thousands of visitors. A community art show and historical
display are held in conjunction with the festival. In 2011 it received the Mount Alexander Shire’s
‘Best Community Event’ award. Other notable community activities include the Winter Ball,
Spring Music Festival, a community concert, craft and produce market, and many other music
and arts events.
Taradale is home to many active community groups and has a strong history of volunteerism.
The following is a list of community/leisure groups in the Taradale area:
Barkly Park Committee
Bring Back the Trains Group
Taradale Arts Group
Taradale Cemetery Trust
Taradale CFA
Taradale Create, Play and Connect
Taradale Cricket Club
Taradale Community Forum
Taradale Hall Committee
Taradale Historical Group
Taradale Mineral Springs Festival Committee
Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve Committee
Taradale Primary School
Taradale Progress Association
Taradale Recreation Reserve Committee
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 8
View from Taradale Primary School Farm
COMMUNITY LIFE AND LEISURE
COMMUNITY GRANTS:
The following Taradale based organisations have received funding under Mount Alexander
Shire’s Strengthening Our Community Grants Scheme during the past three years:
2012/13
Taradale Community Website Working Group for the Taradale Community Website
development
2011/12
Taradale Historical Group for the 150th Anniversary celebrations of the Melbourne to
Bendigo Railwayline
Taradale 150th Viaduct Celebration
2010/11
Taradale Fire Brigade for equipping the new meeting room
Taradale Mineral Springs Committee, in conjunction with Taradale Landcare, for restoration
of Back Creek in the Mineral Springs Reserve
Taradale Mineral Springs Festival for the purchase of a quality public address system for
community use
COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER:
Produced by volunteers, Taradale Talk is the local community newspaper and is published
quarterly.
TRANSPORT:
The Mt Alexander Transit Bus runs a return service to Castlemaine with departures at 10.20am,
1.30pm and 6.15pm daily, Monday to Friday, with no service at the weekend. It is also possible
to ride the school bus with special permission.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 9
Playground at Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve
COMMUNITY PLAN BACKGROUND
Mount Alexander Shire Council received State Government funding to develop Community
Action Plans within the Shire. The Local Community Planning Project aims to work over a three
year period to achieve nine community plans. In October 2011, Mount Alexander Shire Council
announced the first three towns to commence community planning in the Shire - Taradale was
one of these towns.
Taradale was chosen because it had, as a community, taken leadership to respond to community
concerns about the Calder Freeway by-pass in 2009 and developed its own action plan - the 2009
Taradale Opportunities Plan - to address issues pertaining to business viability, attracting visitors
and retaining liveability in their town. Many of the projects indentified in the 2009 Opportunities
Plan have since been undertaken - for example the restoration of the Mechanics Institute.
Additionally Taradale was chosen as it has strong structures for community groups to work
together and support each other through the Taradale Community Forum.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 10
Calves at the Taradale Primary School farm
COMMUNITY PLAN PROCESS
The Taradale Community Forum was approached by Council’s Community Planner to assist in
guiding the community planning process and subsequently to own and implement the Taradale
Community Plan. The Forum was the obvious choice as, previously stated, it had already
demonstrated its commitment to the town through the development of the Taradale
Opportunities Plan in 2009. The Taradale Community Forum continues to provide an opportunity
for representatives of all town committees and other interested people to share information and
ideas, discuss and debate local issues.
As a first step to understand the town and its unique characteristics, a community profile was
developed, capturing historical, cultural, economic and demographic data and information. This
information was used to build a document that provided a recognisable picture of the community
for residents.
Secondly, a series of projects were undertaken to recruit new people into the planning process
and to ensure all views of the community could be heard and fed back into the community
planning process:
Talking to people on the streets of Taradale
Holding a stall at the Taradale Mineral Springs Festival 2012
Conducting resident surveys (forty people responded)
All the information gathered through these processes was then collated.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 11
An exhibition opening at Shelf Life
COMMUNITY PLAN PROCESS
A widely advertised community workshop was held in July 2012 at the Taradale Primary School.
The purpose of those in attendance was to firm up strategies and actions for the future of
Taradale. Below is the promotional flyer used to promote the event to the community.
Two subsequent meetings were held in October 2012 and November 2012 at the Taradale
Community Forum to confirm the strategies and actions of the plan and assign owners to the
various actions to form a draft plan.
A draft copy of the plan was sent to all households by the Taradale Post Office seeking feedback.
Once feedback was received and noted and minor alterations made, the Taradale Community
Action Plan was endorsed by the Taradale Community Forum at its February 2013 meeting.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 12
Students from Taradale PS at the Taradale CFA
COMMUNITY PLAN PROCESS
Many thanks goes to the many people who gave of their time on behalf of the community groups
of Taradale; who made sure that the voices of their members were heard through
representation; and who have taken up ownership of the actions within the plan;
Taradale Wine and Produce
Bring Back the Trains Group
Taradale Anglican Church
Taradale Arts Group
Taradale Cemetery Trust
Taradale Community Forum
Taradale Create, Play and Connect
Taradale Cricket Club
Taradale Hall Committee
Taradale Historical Group
Taradale Mineral Springs Festival Committee
Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve Committee
Taradale Primary School
Taradale Progress Association
Taradale Recreation Reserve
Taradale Rural Fire Brigade
Taradale Talk
Taradale and District Walking Group
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 13
Taradale Community Art Show
TARADALE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
Strategy 1: Business and Communications
1. BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Strategy
Actions
Who to lead
Comments
Promote and support
Local Business
Develop Taradale business directory.
Seek support for new business development in
Taradale (3447) area.
Develop a 'think local' campaign for Taradale
businesses.
Respond to THREAT that local Service Station /
Store / Post Office will close. Seek to set up a viable
store of improved quality.
Taradale Community
Forum, Council
Taradale Community Forum to facilitate formation of a Taradale
Business Group/Forum.
Store Working Group
Public meeting April 29th 2013 showed that Taradale Community is very
keen to retain Post office, fuel, groceries and meeting place in town.
Store Working Group formed. Ongoing liaison with store owners,
Vantage Fuels and Council.
Continue to support and publish the Taradale Talk
regularly and distribute more widely.
Taradale Talk Publishing
Committee, Progress
Association
Photocopier to be purchased with 2012 grant money.
Develop Taradale website including Arts and
Culture page, Business page, "what's on this
month" flyer, Taradale Talk online.
New Residents Kit
Website Working Group
(WWG)
Council community grant applied for and received, paying for a
professional website designer. Brief complied by WWG. Website to be
launched late 2013.
Kit will be available on website by end 2013.
Promote what is
happening in
Taradale to residents
Move community noticeboard near Post Office;
What's on this month.
Attract visitors to the
town
Taradale Progress
Association
Taradale Community
Forum
Notice board moved early 2013. Old plastic cover has deteriorated and
is hard to see through. Needs replacing. Forum to explore options.
More signs explaining Taradale's history e.g. at
cemetery.
Town Walk leaflets.
Publicise variety of Taradale attractions - General
Store, Taradale Wine and Produce Store, The Keep
café, Mineral Springs Reserve etc.
Cemetery Trust
Cemetery Trust to liaise with Historical Group.
Town Walk leaflets completed. Information will be added to website.
Taradale Community
Forum, Business Group,
Council website
Promote Taradale as a desirable destination.
Information about facilities and services at
southern freeway exit, and in Malmsbury
Local Councillor
Negotiate with VicRoads
TARADALE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
Strategy 2: Arts, Crafts, Culture, Events
2. ARTS, CRAFTS, CULTURE, EVENTS
Strategy
Actions
Who to lead
Support and sustain existing
community events and activities
Continue to plan and deliver the annual Mineral Springs
Festival. Seek to recruit new people to the organising
committee.
Mineral Springs Festival
Committee
Support existing community art and cultural events;
Community Concert, Carols in the Park, Spring Music
Festival, Six-weekly art exhibitions at the Shelf Life
Gallery, Festival Art Exhibition, Winter Ball and
Community Concert and historical displays.
Establish craft group. Support emerging group as they
develop.
Mineral Springs Festival
Entertainment Committee,
CFA, Spring Music, Taradale
Wine and Produce, Taradale
Arts Group (TAG), Historical
Group
Create, Play, Connect
Taradale Community Forum
Explore options for community use of the Anglican
Church with new owners.
Spring Music, Taradale Art
Group
Church sold March 2013, purchased by local
residents.
Investigate options for placement of sculpture in Mineral
Springs Reserve.
Mineral Springs Reserve
Committee, Arts Group
Start conversations now about where, what, who,
identity etc.
Promote new community events and
activities
Significant sculptures
Comments
Taradale Create, Play, Connect started at school in
late 2012, combining playgroup and craft. Meets
weekly. All welcome.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 15
TARADALE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
Strategy 3: Sustainability and Skills
3. SUSTAINABILITY & SKILLS
Strategy
Actions
Who to lead
Comments
Promote sustainable living practices
Regular produce and seed exchange. Use this to
grow a small market for the town.
Sustainability Group
Had strong support at July 2012 workshop
Hold exchange at Taradale Wine and Produce shop
Six-weekly craft and produce market commenced in
garden beside Taradale Wine and Produce. See
Taradale Talk for dates.
Building of skills and business enterprises for
food production, processing and sale.
Sustainability Group, "Food and
Farm Life"
Support opportunities with local food producers to
explore and develop production and supply on a farm
scale. Also sharing of traditional methods.
Improving and protecting local
landscapes
Improvements of local waterways such as
Kangaroo and Back Creeks, weed control.
Friends of Landcare
Taradale Landcare currently inactive. Residents in area
to consider forming a partnership with neighbouring
landcare groups (Elphinstone/Malmsbury). Seek
Connecting Country grant funding. Liaise with NCCMA,
CFA (fire danger reduction).
Attract, recognise and retain
volunteers to support community
initiatives
Investigate a photography project to recognise
current volunteers - showcase vitality of the
town.
Taradale Community Forum
Seek Council funding - community grant.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 16
TARADALE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
Strategy 4: Facilities and Services
4. FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Strategy
Actions
Who to lead
Comments
Access to and use of
Taradale Hall
Lobby Council to undertake urgent repairs so that it
can reopen for use by the community.
Hall Committee
Completed. Termite-damaged section of floor and bearers were
replaced late 2012.
Continue to advocate for upgrades to building. New
kitchen, renovations to stage, paint ceiling and walls.
Hall Committee
Lobby Council to include in capital works budget for 2013-14.
Progress Association members have researched kitchen
options. Suggested design completed by local professional
designer and submitted to Council.
Publicise access and encourage use. Lobby Council re
repairs to tennis courts, drainage works around
cricket oval.
Update Mineral Springs Reserve Masterplan.
Recreation Reserve
Committee, Council
New courts surface in April 2013. Key available at general store.
Elphinstone tennis club uses Taradale courts. Cricket ground
works yet to be done.
Funds available from Victorian Mineral Springs Committee, to
be matched by Council. Masterplan to set priorities.
Remove old CFA shed from Mineral Springs Reserve.
Mineral Springs Reserve
Committee
School Council, Taradale
Community Forum
Recreation reserves and
tennis courts
Mineral Springs Reserve
Committee
Future of Primary School as
an important community
hub for education and other
uses
Ensure that the primary school stays open. Promotion
as a great place for education.
Share resources with community, e.g. garden,
kitchen, rooms, art room, access to photocopier.
School, Council, School staff
Increase access to
sustainable transport
options
Improve bus links with train times.
Department of Transport
Explore car pooling arrangements via website.
Website Working Group
Campaign for limited train stops at Taradale station.
Bring Back the Trains Group
Conduct survey with young people.
Council Youth Services
Identify and support
activities for young people
Completed April 2013.
TCF has written to Education Department, and successfully
lobbied politicians in 2013 to achieve this guarantee and staff
stability.
Create, Play, Connect group meets weekly in school.
Taradale Community Forum holds meetings in school.
Council's Community Transport Officer can assist with
advocacy.
Council continues to lobby Government.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 17
TARADALE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
Strategy 5: Beautification
5. BEAUTIFICATION
Strategy
Actions
Who to lead
Comments
Promote walking tracks and trails
Signage for Royal Oaks Walk, update maps and leaflets
for other walks to include routes and information.
Local Councillor, Mineral Springs
Reserve Committee
High Street
Continue street tree planting, link to Mineral Springs
once old CFA shed demolished.
Consider further improvements to streetscape, formalise
car parking in business area.
Council in consultation with
Community
Vic Roads
Install information sign about walk to viaduct
and Royal Oaks in Mineral Springs Park, path
markers along route. Update map in Park to
include this walk and Historical Group's town
walk. Extend existing longer walks along
sections of Coliban Main Channel to form
round trips, update map and leaflets
accordingly.
Could consider devices such as traffic island
to slow traffic.
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 18
COMMUNITY PLAN CONTACTS
Association
Arts Group/ Shelf Life Gallery
Barkly Park
Bring Back the Trains Group
CFA Fire Brigade
Coliban Ward Councillor
Community Forum
Craft Group
Cricket Club
Hall Committee (S86)
Historical Group Inc
Landcare
Local Traders
Mineral Springs Festival Entertainment Comm.
Mineral Springs Festival President
Mineral Springs Reserve Committee (S86)
Primary School
Progress Association Inc.
Recreation Reserve COM (S86)
Royal Oaks
Spring Music Festival
Sustainability Group
Taradale & District Walking Group
Taradale Cemetery Trust
Taradale Create, Play and Connect
Taradale Talk
Website Working Group
Name
Kate Osborne
Olive Penno
Geoff Faircloth
Robert Schomacker
Christine Henderson
Secretary - Gay Buchanan
Carol Hudson
President - Lyndon Vearing
President - Michael Pettigrew
President- Gay Buchanan
Kate Smith
Marg Barry
Marg Barry
Ron Paine
Pres - Mike Pettigrew
Principal - Chris Burgess
President- Yvonne Pettigrew
President - Richard Shill
Barb Wales-West
Marco Van Pagee
Latarnie McDonald
President - David Weeks
Secretary - Marg Moody
Chris Burgess
Editor - Chris Burgess
Donna Fearne
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 19
This document has been developed using the following resources:
Australian Bureau of Statistics National Regional Profile: Mount Alexander
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011 Census Quickstats: Taradale
Community Indicators Victoria Mount Alexander Wellbeing Report
Profile ID Mount Alexander Shire Community Profile
Mount Alexander Shire Map 2020 Community Plan
Taradale Community Action Plan June 2013 page 20