New Life for Former Nursery Site: Lae Street Concept Plan Endorsed
Published on 13 December 2023
Council’s former Nursery site in West Footscray is to be transformed into a new community park that will provide a playful, reflective, meditative, space local residents have asked for.
Council endorsed a Concept Plan for the site that reflects key elements identified by the Lae Street Nursery Community Advisory Group – an independently facilitated group of neighbours, nearby residents, and representatives from community and environmental groups, established to lead a conversation around opportunities for the land at 4 Lae Street.
The deliberative community engagement process included nine formal advisory group meetings in 2022 and a further meeting in September 2023 to finalise the Concept Plan.
Other activities included a Community Open Day in May 2022, led by Advisory Group members and attended by 80 West Footscray residents, an online survey and ideas wall on a Your City Your Voice, and an on-site place-making session with students from the Melbourne University Urban Design course.
Mayor, Cr Cuc Lam, acknowledged the role of the Community Advisory Group in shaping the Concept Plan.
"I would like to thank the Community Advisory Group for their investment in this process and for sharing their insights and supporting Council in identifying future opportunities for the former Lae Street Nursery site."
“The endorsed Concept Plan outlines an area of high-quality open space that adds to and complements the Stony Creek Open Space Corridor, and will provide a new life for the former nursery site to support West Footscray residents for many years to come”, she said.
Key elements of the endorsed Concept Plan to enhance community use of the site include:
- a gathering circle and sloping lawn are in the centre of the park
- community bush tucker beds in raised bluestone planters
- a meditative seating area
- a water fountain play area
- ·nature play water area
- a rain garden for surface water run-off
- adventure play
- a clambering nature play discovery trail
For more information and to view the Concept Plan, visit the Your City Your Voice page.