Places +
spaces
We are experts in designing and creating quality public places and spaces in the regions. Well-designed places encourage activity, health and recreation and are safe spaces for all.
Our approach is responsive to local needs, the reality of limited resources and the constraints on government decision-making.
We get called in to help with initial brainstorming through to in-depth community-led design. Our passion is working with councils and communities to create engaging public places with people at the centre.
If you’d like to know more, we’d love to talk.
Our track record
We’ve worked across the full spectrum of public spaces in regional areas from small urban spaces needing activation to master planning for large reserves, sportsgrounds and natural areas. We have deep expertise in planning for cemeteries and tourist parks.
Our projects are backed by a strong understanding of stakeholder and community perception gained through consultation activities. We also bring our own in-depth understanding of the issues and opportunities that are regularly faced in public space planning.
Casino Showground and Racecourse
Locale developed a Master Plan and Plan of Management for this key sporting and community facility in the regional town of Casino. The site planning integrated a number of existing potential future roles of the site. It reinforced its equine related activities, improved its flood free racecourse, and ensured future access for events and occasional camping. Projects are now being progressed with successful grant funding applications that we prepared.
Ben’s Walk and Hanging Rock Lookout
Following our detailed stakeholder consultation about the Nowra Showground Plan of Management and Master Plan, Locale were invited to create a detailed master plan and associated tourism grant application for the spectacular Ben’s Walk and Hanging Rock lookout area. Being integrated with the Showground and its available camping facilities, the project highlighted the potential role of showgrounds in tourism activities.
Macleay Valley Holiday Parks Concept Plans
Locale was initially engaged to advise on the social and economic benefits of annual licence sites. Given their integral place within holiday parks, we were subsequently engaged to undertake a broader community engagement process for long-term park planning, resulting in the development of Master Plans across the five Macleay Valley Coast Holiday Parks and their inclusion within a generic plan of management.
Batemans Bay Streetscape Master Plan
Locale was engaged by Council to undertake a consultation and design process for the Batemans Bay main street area. The project reinforced the core business district and integrated it with previous work undertaken by our associate land architect, Stuart Drury. The project sought to provide for the cyclical influx of tourism whilst being practical for local residents who use the area on a day to day basis throughout the year.
Narooma Foreshore Landscape and Destination Master Plan
As part of an integrated project across a large project area, Locale worked with the Council to prepare a Destination Master Plan, Landscape Master Plan and Plan of Management for the Narooma Flats area. The project included a range of tourism activity areas, sporting facilities, caravan park and community facilities. The project seeks to establish a long-term vision for the area from a community, tourism and economic development perspective.
Marriott Park Master Plan
Marriott Park is a large, centrally located public park in the regional centre of Nowra. Working with our associate landscape architect Stuart Drury, we undertook detailed consultation and preparation of a master plan. The area combined community facilities, recreational use and a need to activate the space to ensure ongoing community safety. A Livvi’s place playground was subsequently designed by Stuart.
Shoalhaven Memorial Gardens & Lawn Cemetery Master Plan
Following a broad Cemeteries Strategy project for all facilities, we were invited by Council to develop a more detailed and multifaceted direction for the main cemetery site in the Shoalhaven. The Master Plan bridged the strategy direction and internally produced Business Plan to create a series of long-term opportunities to ensure the regional function of the cemetery is maintained.
Warden Head Community Led Master Plan
The Ulladulla Lighthouse Group were formed out of necessity for change. We were fortunate to work with this community group and help address the issues they were facing. Through thoughtful stakeholder and community engagement, we designed an engaging outcome for this heritage listed item, bringing together a community that was highly invested, with our associate landscape architect seeing the project through to construction.
Dapto Mall Activation Concepts
Sometimes small public areas have the biggest problems. For this project we worked with Wollongong City Council to prepare a series of options for the redevelopment of a small but important town centre square in Dapto. Council sought a series of interim, low-cost place-making ideas that could be used to test the long-term use of the area – resulting in short, medium and long-term plans.
Catherine Hill Bay Precincts Master Plan
Locale has recently completed precinct master plans for two important public open space areas in Catherine Hill Bay. The area is both extremely popular for its heritage significance and scenic coastal appeal, as well as undergoing significant change resulting from rapid urban growth. Balancing community needs, heritage impacts and available resourcing through comprehensive engagement were key aspects of the project.
Woodburn Riverside Park Master Plan and Grant Funding
Working with our associate landscape architect Stuart Drury, Locale prepared a master plan for Riverside Park and adjoining streetscape in the town of Woodburn. The project involved the upgrade and reconfiguration of the park to enable the area to be used for a wide range of sporting, tourism and community purposes. Locale also prepared a successful funding submission to assist the initial phases of implementation.
Port Macquarie Crown Land Plan of Management
Locale have undertaken a range of site specific and generic plans of management under the Crown Land Management Act 2016 arrangements. At Port Macquarie, we developed a comprehensive generic plan of management that establishes a clear and simple framework, with locality-based plans providing the community with easily located and understood information on a full range of Council managed Crown lands.
Rathmines Park Plan of Management and Master Plan
Locale prepared a Plan of Management and Master Plan for the former Rathmines Park RAAF base area on the foreshore of Lake Macquarie. The expansive area has a wide range of uses, heritage overlays and areas of environmental importance. With an active and engaged community, Rathmines Park provides important waterfront open space that is to be celebrated within its historical context.
Central Coast Cemeteries Strategy and Master Plans
We have completed numerous cemetery strategies for various councils, often with a master plan to assist in defining details on future directions. For Central Coast Council, we initially reviewed cemetery capacity, then prepared a cemetery services strategy and associated master plans for two key cemeteries. This set out a clear picture of capacity, land constraints to be overcome and the associated cost of development.
Morisset Showground Plan of Management and Master Plan
Showgrounds play an integral part in community life, particularly in regional areas. Working with Lake Macquarie City, we developed a long-term master plan and plan of management to guide this centrally located facility. Comprehensive community engagement greatly assisted in recognising the role and needs of the facility, and to ultimately produce documents that puts steps in place to see these achieved.
What our
clients say
about us
“On a personal note, I’d like to say it’s been great to work with each of you – Steve, Stu and Cinnamon – over the last few years. You’re all great at your jobs, very professional and have certainly helped to make my life easier – thank you!”
“I’ve been working with the team for many years, Locale’s staff are hands-on and work closely with us to understand our issues and find workable solutions.”
“As you know, we were apprehensive with regards the sensitivities around Catherine Hill Bay and your genuine approach to community led planning has provided a great outcome for the community and Council.”
