Building Strategy 2024-2034

This project is another phase of our ‘Sustainable MRC’ project, which encompasses a number of service level reviews and decisions made by Council aimed at securing long-term financial sustainability.

Council has developed a Building Strategy to guide the ongoing management and investment in Council owned and managed buildings and facilities across the region.

The strategy builds on the information collated during the Land and Buildings Needs and Demands Project undertaken by CT Management on behalf of Council, and the internal Revenue Task Force findings. Finding have also been supported by previous engagement activities undertaken as part of the development of the recent Murray River Local Housing Strategy and the current Community Strategic Plan.

The final strategy will offer clear direction relating to current and future Building and Facility management requirements.

Background

Over the past 3 years, council staff and consultants have collated and sorted a large amount of data relating to all Parks, Open Spaces and Buildings that Council owns or manages across the region. We have undertaken various community engagement activities including targeted conversations with our Section 355 Committees (volunteer committees appointed by Council under the Local Government Act 1993) and QR codes at all of our Open Space locations and Buildings to understand the level and type of uses at these areas.

After consolidating the results, several workshops were undertaken with Councillors (leading up to March 2023) to develop the Parks and Open Spaces Hierarchy and Inclusions list. Consultants engaged by Council also completed work to identify surplus parcels of land and buildings across the region and look at options to re-purpose or dispose of the land. During this work we determined there was a significant amount of parcels of land that had been previously incorrectly determined as Community Land instead of being Operational Land. Council staff, together with the Councillors have considered these areas and will now work towards formalising the necessary changes via the required planning proposal.

On 28 March 2023, Council resolved to:

1. Approve the recreational and open space service provisioning standards and proposed parks hierarchy recommendations, and
2. Progress the Recreational and Open Space Provisioning Strategy to public consultation, and
3. Provide a further report to Council on Planning Proposals for the reclassification of Community land to Operational land, and Road Reserve, once public consultation is completed for Council’s consideration.

Although the Council Resolution did not specifically require the development of a Buildings Strategy, the Parks and Open Space Strategy and future monitoring and management of Councils buildings could not be managed without this strategy.

The Strategy

The Buildings Strategy has been developed in response to the need to plan for the provision and maintenance of Council owned and managed buildings right across our region. It assesses how well our existing buildings will meet the needs of the future Murray River Council population, covering facilities such as public halls, offices, libraries, public toilets and sports pavilions

Building Classifications

We have determined six (6) classifications for Council owned and managed buildings.

The Buildings Strategy focuses on Public Halls and pavilions and buildings that serve a similar function or have space suitable for a hall style activities / function, Council Offices, Libraries, Public Toilets (subject to further community engagement and strategic analysis), Council Dwellings, Sporting pavilions / club rooms.

The Building Strategy does NOT focus on the following spaces as they are managed under their own monitoring and management procedures. RFS / SES Buildings & Facilities, Retirement Housing/Villages, Preschools, Waste Management Facilities (refer to Council’s Waste Management Strategy), Water Treatment Plant Buildings, Sewerage Treatment Plant Buildings and Pump Stations.

Building Assets and Classifications

We have four (4) levels within the Building Hierarchy. The Hierarchy is defined via development, frequency of use, importance or community visibility and the visitation rates for each site.

For further information please refer to the draft strategy on this page.

Your involvement

The Buildings Strategy is currently in draft form and was on display for the required 28 day Public Consultation Period, allowing for community feedback.

Once the feedback period closes, Council Officers will review the comments for relevant inclusion into the final strategy and service plan for Councillors to consider at the next available Council meeting for formal adoption.

Submissions closed 28 June 2024.