Project Update - June 2021

PROJECT UPDATE

The Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station project has progressed well over the past few months, laying the groundwork for the concept design, site investigations, and planning approvals of the proposed research and education field station at Point Nepean Quarantine Station.

Alongside this work, the Universities have been working with Parks Victoria to ensure the proposed project aligns with the Point Nepean Master Plan (Parks Victoria, 2017) with progress toward a lease agreement with the Victorian Government for the site’s location within the Quarantine Station precinct.

Further engagement with the registered Traditional Owners at Point Nepean, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Heritage Victoria and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has been ongoing and will continue in the next phase of the project. 

Alongside this, the local community and representatives were recently invited to have their say via a survey on what matters most about the proposed project. 

What we heard - Results of the Community Survey

Thank you to the respondents of the survey earlier this year, which asked the community about the most important considerations for the proposed research and education field station.  The 85 responses were very supportive about the potential for the field station to contribute positively to the community and environmental knowledge.  Respondents also contributed their ideas about how they might like to engage with the activities of the station and to ensure the facility is sensitive to its surroundings.  

A report summarising the feedback can be found here and has been used to inform the business planning and next steps in design. Stay tuned for details via the website and through this newsletter for further updates as the design progresses.

Hassell Studios join the design team

Award-winning architects Hassell Studios Melbourne has been appointed to lead the design of the proposed research and education field station at Point Nepean.  Hassell were appointed following a tender process, having demonstrated a sound understanding of the Point Nepean site’s significance and their commitment to creating spaces for community, such as their recent work on the Geelong Arts Centre.

Hassell’s work has already begun on understanding the site of the proposed field station, the functional requirements of the project and have developed early design thinking for the Universities to consider.

Upcoming site investigations 

To support the planning and design of the field station at Point Nepean, further site investigation work will commence on the Point Nepean National Park Quarantine Station site from Tuesday 29 June to Friday 2 July 2021 to understand the site’s soil conditions.

The Project Team has been working with land managers and stakeholders Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Parks Victoria, Heritage Victoria, and the Bunurong Land Council to seek relevant approvals.