Early works on the Civic Precinct and Community Hub to start in 2023
Published on 23 December 2022
Fencing has now been erected around the Town Hall in Footscray ahead of the redevelopment of the heritage building and council offices, which is scheduled to begin in January 2023.
Works will include the refurbishment and conservation of the 80 year old heritage listed Town Hall building (in line with Heritage Victoria requirements), along with the demolition of the two existing office buildings and construction of a new, modern six-star Green Star administration building, a 200 seat facility and a new community park.
The Precinct designs, endorsed by Council in June, incorporate many of the elements the community has asked for, including: a warm and inviting space with a second entrance off Napier Street into the Town Hall and the use of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable design elements to support Green Star accreditation.
Designs are still being finalised for the community park, which, in line with what we have heard from residents, will include plenty of shade, seating, focus on soft surfaces (where practicable) and reflection of the cultural and indigenous history in the outdoor area.
The final design strikes a balance between maintaining historical aspects and creating modern assets for future users. The forum space, which is the physical link between the old and the new, will include a new entry off Hyde Street connecting to the community meeting spaces and new community park.
Council staff have relocated to the Central West Shopping Centre on the corner of Ashley Street and South Road, Braybrook, for the duration of the works, where officers will be available to meet by appointment only. A new Customer Service Centre has been established at Footscray Library, 56 Paisley Street, Footscray, which is staffed 8:30am to 5:00pm daily.
Council meetings are now being held at the Braybrook Community Hub.
The contract for works on the Civic Precinct and Community Hub Project, which are expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2024, was awarded to Melbourne based commercial construction company, Ireland Brown Constructions Pty Ltd, in September 2022.
For more information about the project and construction progress, visit Maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/townhall
Message from the Mayor, Councillor Sarah Carter
The Footscray Town Hall has been a part of the civic fabric of Maribyrnong for more than 80 years. And after many years in the planning, it is great to see the fencing going up signalling the start of the physical on the ground works that will ensure the longevity of this treasured historic building for our community.
There are two years of renovations and works ahead, but once completed, the Civic Precinct and Community Hub will provide a modern, environmentally friendly space that not only pays homage to the rich history of the site and wider City, but also a space residents will be able to enjoy for years to come.
About the contractors
Ireland Brown Constructions is a commercial construction company specialising in all sectors of the industry; including correctional, health, education, community, aged care, multi-level residential and general commercial.
The lead architects on this project are DesignInc, an Australia-wide architecture and design practice who focus on creating healthy buildings and people-centric environments. The landscape designer is Outlines Landscape.
All consultants are working closely together to ensure the building and landscape designs are complementary to the overall objectives of the project. This includes Green Star initiatives, building access requirements, community space, heritage considerations and utilities requirements.
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