OUTSTANDING SMALL RURAL COUNCIL INITIATIVE

MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE COUNCIL The Village Square

The Village Square was a successful, temporary activation of a large block of vacant land in the heart of Castlemaine, supporting the development, retention, and recovery of the region’s creative industries and provided a welcoming space to safely gather outdoors.

Supported by three Victorian State Government funding programs, the project included the establishment of a ‘Curatorium’ comprising of community-focused producers delivering professional development pathways through cultural activities and workshops, primarily focused on young people.

The project demonstrated the value of partnering with creative industries to reimagine and activate under-utilised spaces.

An ‘embedded artist’ was engaged to help drive creative thinking and co-design approaches, resulting in the Village Square becoming an organic and evolving space that has allowed the community to determine its programming and infrastructure directions, including its carbon neutrality.

This infrastructure and programming were seasonally responsive and developed for a wide range of uses, resulting in a much-loved community venue.

The flexible and accessible new workspace it has offered responded to demand for outdoor activities following Victoria’s pandemic lockdowns. It has shown that when seeking to improve public spaces, an investment in people and creativity is as important as a council’s investment in infrastructure.

Initiatives demonstrating best practice or the pursuit of excellence in service delivery to the community or a specified target market that will be continued.

• Clarity of demonstrated outcomes

• Benefits relative to cost

• Size and complexity of initiative relative to funding and resources

• Innovative and defining features

• Effectiveness/transferability

• Financial sustainability

• Ability to meet specific clients/target group needs

• Yarra City Council

Yarra Libraries Library Management Team

Open Libraries

• Brimbank City Council

Brimbank Neighbourhood House Unit

Hospitality Skills Training and Mentoring Program

• Frankston City Council

Frankston Maternal and Child Health Team

Healthy & Safe Communities

• Glen Eira City Council

Glen Eira Mums