Works have commenced to improve the pedestrian crossings and walkways within Tunstall Square that will complement the Streetscape Master Plan being developed for the western side of the Doncaster East shopping centre.

The Master Plan will guide major upgrades of pedestrian paths, the creation of a new urban plaza space, new feature landscaping and improved footpath trading areas with trader and community consultation to begin in mid 2015.

Preliminary works include upgrades of the central pedestrian walkway on the western side of the shopping centre and the main pedestrian crossing on Tunstall Road, as well as the creation of a designated area for taxi and community buses to pick up and drop off passengers.

Manningham Mayor, Cr Paul McLeish said the new pedestrian area will replace the Rotary Walkway which had become a safety hazard, with the uneven brick paving found to be a significant tripping hazard to mobility impaired users.

“It is unfortunate that we have had to remove the well known and loved Rotary Walkway. But despite our best efforts to improve the safety of the original path’s surface, no practical solution could be found.”

“The initial intention was for the flattest bricks to be re-laid, and for the remaining uneven bricks to be used for low seating walls along the edges of the walkway.”

“Several techniques were tried to remove the bricks from the pathway without damaging them, but unfortunately very few were able to be salvaged in one piece,” he said.

Cr McLeish said that Council was very sensitive to the efforts of Rotary and the local community who built the walkway back in 1991 and has incorporated many facets of the original pathway into the new design.

Prior to the bricks being lifted, professional photographs were taken and the images of the bricks will be used in a number of ways:

• Names, dates and images will be etched into steel street furniture elements.
• Photographs will be published in a book that tells of the history of the Rotary Walkway and features stories about the people who participated in the project.
• Installation of an interpretive sign onsite, which will feature one or more photographs of the Rotary Walkway and share its history with passers-by.

Council will be working with Rotary to implement these projects.

The pedestrian safety and accessibility works are partially funded by a $150,000 grant from the Australian Government's Safer Suburbs Program Taxi Security Scheme  and are due to be completed early June 2015.

A community art project is breathing new life into the car park at Tunstall Square Shopping Centre in Doncaster East.

Manningham Council is working with the shopping centre to turn the car park into an artist’s canvas.

Local artists and a range of schools and community organisations have been invited to paint designs directly onto the asphalt across two rows of car parking spaces. A local artist is helping to bring these creations to life.

Manningham Mayor Cr Andrew Conlon said: “There’s a wealth of creative talent in our region and this art project is yet another way to showcase these skills while improving the visual landscape of the shopping centre.”

“Come down and check out the masterpieces at Tunstall Square Shopping Centre on the corner of Tunstall and Doncaster Roads in Doncaster East,” he said.

Tunstall Square West Shopping Centre Manager, Irene Goonan, said that this was the first time something like this has been done in Australia and the community could join in the fun of watching these masterpieces being created.

The majority of painting will be on Sunday 9 and 16 September. The public is welcome to attend.

Two parking aisles will be closed on either side of the main walkway at the shopping centre until Thursday 20 September while the project is underway.

Manningham Council is planning a major upgrade of the outdoor spaces on the western side of Tunstall Square and is currently seeking comment from the community to finalise the design.

Approximately $1 million will be invested over the next three years to refresh the remaining pedestrian areas and build on the established ‘market feel’ in Tunstall Square, which is one of Manningham’s most popular neighbourhood centres.

The key features of the draft Tunstall Square Streetscape Masterplan are:

• New public plaza space providing opportunity for community events, play elements, casual seating, and new feature trees
• Upgraded footpaths with clear delineation of trading areas
• Contemporary landscaping.
• Staged replacement of some trees
• New seating areas, litter bins and wayfinding signage in key locations
• Opportunities for vibrant community/public art

Manningham Mayor Cr Paul McLeish said Tunstall Square has a wide range of services and a lively outdoor atmosphere, and the proposed streetscape improvements will significantly improve opportunities for visitors to meet, sit and enjoy this local neighbourhood centre.

“I encourage local residents to share their views on the draft Streetscape Masterplan, as community feedback will help inform the works to be completed over the next three years.”

For more information and to have their say, the community is invited to visit www.yoursaymanningham.com.au

Submissions on the draft Tunstall Square Streetscape Masterplan close on Friday 23 October.

Manningham Council has resolved to place the Tunstall Square Draft Structure Plan on public exhibition until Friday 19 December 2014.

The draft Structure Plan was developed in consultation with residents, traders, property owners and community stakeholders to provide direction for the future use and development of the centre over the next 20 years.

The draft Structure Plan will guide investment and improvements to Tunstall Square, which is one of nine activity centres located in Manningham.

Some of the proposed key actions include:

• Rezoning the land at 44 – 48 Tunstall Road to a commercial zone with a height limit of 13.5 metres to create more commercial opportunities.
• Providing opportunities for ‘shop-top’ housing by limiting building heights to 13.5 metres (4 storeys) in the commercial centre
• Improving the centre’s visibility by identifying two ‘gateway’ sites (up to 16 metres /5 storeys) on Doncaster Road
• Creating a high quality public plaza by closing the one-way road off Beverley Street
• Improving the operation of the existing car parks along with bicycle and pedestrian access to the Centre, including a potential new pedestrian link from Monterey Crescent
• Improving public spaces with seating, lighting, landscaping and business identification and way finding signage
• Identifying an opportunity for a multi-deck car park in Beverley Street (11 metres) by the private sector with no net loss in public car parking
• Investigating the possible expansion of Beverley Reserve.

For more information, visit What Matters Manningham

Manningham Council, the Rotary Club of Warrandyte Donvale and Tunstall Square traders have together produced a Tunstall Square booklet to celebrate the shopping centre’s past, present and future.

The booklet includes an introduction to all of the traders at Tunstall Square in Doncaster East, including the mix of cafes and restaurants, fresh produce and grocers, health and beauty, utilities and services and gifts and retail providers within the centre.

The Rotary Club of Warrandyte Donvale provided information on the centre’s past, including a circus visit to Tunstall Square in the 1960s and the 1992 project to install a series of etched brick pavers with community members’ names.

These pavers were removed as part of an upgrade to the Tunstall Square Rotary Walk in 2015 and have been replaced with inscribed stainless steel tree guards, which feature the name of many participating community members. A new interpretive sign has recently been installed to complement the upgraded Rotary Walk.

The booklet also provides a brief overview of the Tunstall Square Structure Plan 2015 and highlights the potential future of Tunstall Square and surrounds.

The design concept for the booklet was developed by Deakin University students as part of their course work.

Tunstall Square centre co-ordinator Irene Goonan said it is very valuable to have the past, present and future plans recorded in this booklet.

“Thanks to Manningham Council, for assisting in producing this 'Family Album' of Tunstall Square. It is a wonderful record of the importance of all sections of the community working together – this ensures a vibrant, happy and caring City,” she said.

Rotary Club of Warrandyte Donvale Charter Member and Past President, Robert McKenzie, said the booklet gives the public a great insight into who the people are, that own and run the local shops.

“The booklet highlights what the Rotary Club has contributed to the community for the past 36 years, and will continue to do in the future and we at Rotary would like to acknowledge the great support given to the club by all the traders,” he said.

Copies of the Tunstall Square booklet are available from the Rotary caravan at the Tunstall Square Market, held on the last Sunday of each month from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm, and from the Manningham Civic Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster.

Manningham Council is seeking feedback from the community and local traders on its proposed design for the new public plaza space at Tunstall Square in Doncaster East.

An action of the Tunstall Square Structure Plan 2015, the public plaza will be created by closing the road formerly known as Shaw Street. 

Council’s decision to officially close the road to create a public plaza area was made in May 2016 following extensive community consultation on the proposed closure. 

The proposed design includes a range of features such as:

• New street trees and planting to enrich the space, create shade in summer and enhance existing trees within the space
• Incorporating sculptural elements into the new space
• A range of seating
• A combination of bluestone paving and asphalt pavement surfaces.

The new space will increase pedestrian movement throughout the centre and provide opportunities for visitors to meet, congregate and hold community events.

The proposed design has been developed with the existing conditions of the space and requirements for drainage and electrical services and emergency vehicle access in mind.

The consultation closes on Monday 29 August.

Community drop in session

Community members and local traders are invited to a drop in session that will be held at Tunstall Square on Tuesday 23 August from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm.

Council officers will be available to answer any questions about what is being proposed for the public plaza.

The works will form part of stage three of the five stage upgrade of Tunstall Square and will start in late January 2017. It is expected to be completed in March 2017.

For more information, to view the design and have their say, community members are invited to visit www.yoursaymanningham.com.au/tunstall-square-plaza

Manningham Council is considering the closure of the road formerly known as Shaw Street at Tunstall Square in Doncaster East, to facilitate the creation of a public plaza area at the shopping centre and is inviting comments from the community.

From Thursday 3 March to Wednesday 13 April, community members are invited to have their say about the potential closure, which is an action of the Tunstall Square Structure Plan 2015, to provide an open space area and opportunity for people to meet and congregate.

To demonstrate the possibilities of a public plaza space, the roadway will be temporarily closed to traffic for two weeks during this period, from Monday 7 March to Monday 21 March. 

An event is also scheduled for Saturday 12 March from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm to showcase the possibilities within the space and will include games, face painting and a free barbecue. 

Manningham Mayor, Cr Jennifer Yang, said a public plaza space could be a great addition to Tunstall Square for shoppers, visitors and traders, offering them a place to meet and enjoy the centre. 

“It is anticipated that the proposed public plaza space will support local businesses by attracting more visitors to Tunstall Square and encouraging shoppers to stay longer and enjoy what the centre has to offer. 

“I encourage local residents and traders to get involved and have their say on the potential closure of the former Shaw Street and the creation of a public plaza space.”

Submissions must be in writing and can be made online at www.yoursaymanningham.com.au/tunstall-square or by mail to The Manager, Engineering and Technical Services, Manningham City Council, PO Box 1, Doncaster, Victoria 3108.
 
For more information community members are encouraged to visit www.yoursaymanningham.com.au/tunstall-square

The community art project at Tunstall Square Shopping Centre is half way through and already there is a surge of interest from the community.

Volunteer artists, including Scouts and school groups, have combined forces to design and paint art on car parking spaces to make Tunstall Square a more vibrant place to shop. 

This creative project is an initiative of the Tunstall Square Traders Association, supported by Manningham Council.

The painting will be completed by our volunteer artists this Sunday 16 September. Fourteen parking spaces will be closed while the artwork is sealed and will reopen on Thursday 20 September.

The community is invited to walk, scoot or ride and check out the work in progress onsite on the corner of Tunstall and Doncaster Roads, Doncaster East.