Overport Primary School Landscape Masterplan

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1 Overport Primary School Landscape Masterplan endorsed by School Council 29 October 2012

2 Endorsements Endorsement by School Principal and School Council President Name of Principal: Julie Gleeson Principal s Signature: Date: Name of School Council President: Brett White School Council President s signature: Date: 2

3 Introduction Established in 1957, Overport Primary School is located on an attractive gently sloping site in the City of Frankston, adjoining Frankston High School and opposite Delacombe Park. The extensive school grounds incorporate an oval, synthetic grass soccer field, running track, half tennis court, rebound ace basketball court, cricket pitch, three playgrounds and large open areas with mature shade trees. The school is in the process of completing a major building project which will see an almost complete replacement of old buildings with new ones. The Overport Primary School Landscape Master Plan directs the future development and operation of the school grounds and enhances the ability of the school to grow as one of choice for education, arts and environmental sustainability. Background During 2011 the Buildings and Grounds Sub Committee expressed a desire to improve the landscape values of the school and to provide better opportunities for student learning outcomes to be linked to these values. It was agreed that the Sub Committee would deliver a Landscape Masterplan (The Plan) for the school. A key part of this would be a full engagement process with the school community prior to development of The Plan, in order to gather thoughts and ideas about the school landscape, present and future. The resulting thoughts and ideas would form the basis of The Plan. A Landscape Working Group was established, made up of members of the Buildings and Grounds Sub Committee and an interested teacher, to deliver the engagement process and to draft The Plan. Teachers, students and parents provided their thoughts and ideas in a process which took place during the third and fourth terms of The Landscape Working Group compiled this information (Appendix 1), sorting it into themes which were then used to form the basis for The Plan. 3

4 Aims To develop a 5 year plan for the landscape at Overport Primary School To improve the school landscape as a place for learning, play and discovery To identify and enhance links between the landscape and the core curriculum of the school To contribute to the biodiversity values of the Frankston area Site Values and Constraints A number of important site values and constraints have been identified to help guide The Plan, including: existing tree canopy proposed and existing building footprint large open areas proposed netball court, location yet to be determined existing playgrounds and active recreation areas such as the oval, soccer pitch and basketball court 4

5 Themes Seven key themes set the focus for the Overport Primary School landscape. They are: 1. Biodiversity Beds Located along the western and northern boundaries, these visually appealing beds will focus on recreating habitat for some of Frankston s indigenous plants (see page 9), birds and insects. Hands on interaction with the wonders of the local environment will be greatly enhanced with the establishment of these beds. 2. Food Gardens Located next to the oval and the senior playground, these gardens will include vegetables, herbs and a composting area, as well as a substantial and diverse orchard. They will provide numerous opportunities for learning and will be linked to activities undertaken in the Towerhill Learning Centre (TLC) kitchen. 3. Japanese Garden Providing a space for quiet contemplation and including water as a theme, this garden will be located next to the new library and will enhance the Japanese program. 4. Gardens for Grades Exploration, experimentation, involvement, creativity and fun are the drivers for Gardens for Grades. These will be located in the heart of the school surrounded by buildings and will provide opportunities for grades to develop and maintain their own gardens along a theme of their making. The inclusion of artistic installations will be encouraged. 5. Shade and Shelter Enhancing the existing tree canopy to provide more shade and shelter will focus on the following Evergreens along the linear zone immediately east of the soccer pitch and rebound wall, and next to the Administration Building Deciduous trees along the northern side of all buildings, providing summer shade and winter light consistent with sound energy conservation principles 5

6 Open canopy evergreens at the entrance to the school, particularly in front of the TLC and between Building 2 and the Hall 6. School Entrance and Building Surrounds Existing landscaping at the front entrance to the school, including the Flowering Gum canopy, paving and rock work, will be enhanced and extended to the TLC area and to the surrounds of the new buildings. The goal is to create an attractive, inviting entry precinct, using Australian native and indigenous plants, and to continue this theme to discrete areas around the new school buildings. 7. Kick Catch and Run Existing sporting areas will be enhanced with a new netball court, new four square courts and a refurbishment of the school oval. 6

7 Projects Theme Project Timeframe Budget Leader Biodiversity Beds Stage 1 (running track to Summit Rd entrance) preparation and planting $2000 Bill Mallinson Stage 1 bed protection (shade cloth) 2012 n/a Marie Yanni Stage 2 (length of oval, north side) preparation and planting $2000 Bill Mallinson Food Gardens Vegie garden tbc Rachael Higgins Orchard 2013 tbc Rachael Higgins Watering system 2013 tbc Daniel Cole and James Lorrimer Japanese Garden Garden design 2013 tbc Tomoko and Adrian Vitale Hard landscaping and planting 2014 tbc Tomoko and Adrian Vitale Gardens for Grades Garden bed design and construction 2013 $1000 Marie Yanni Shade and Shelter Rebound wall / soccer pitch (length of, east side) 2012 $200 Rachael Higgins Hall / TLC north side 2012 $1000 Bill Mallinson Admin building (west side) 2013 $280 Bill Mallinson School Entrance and Building Surrounds Kick Catch and Run School entrance / TLC 2012 $8000 Daniel Cole Building surrounds (post construction) 2013 tbc Bill Mallinson 4 square courts 2012 n/a John Hearn Netball court (new) 2014 tbc John Hearn School oval refurbishment (top dress / repair holes / replace goal posts) 2014 tbc James Lorrimer 7

8 Supporting Initiatives Frankston Teachers Environment Network Facilitated by Frankston City Council's Environment Department, the Network provides an effective communication avenue between Council and schools and a valuable forum for teachers to meet professionally. Key features of the program include information and presentations on environmental resources and programs, professional development on environmental topics (composting and worm farming in schools, vegetable gardening, Resource Smart Schools, seed propagation) and tours of other schools to share achievements. Resource Smart Schools The ResourceSmart Schools Program consists of five modules which schools progress through along their journey towards sustainability. The modules are Core, Energy, Waste, Water and Biodiversity. Overport Primary has commenced the Core module of the program, with its Plant Savers group playing an active role in sustainability at the school. The program is managed by Sustainability Victoria and supported by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and delivered by CERES Community Environment Park. 8

Vegetation Plan Species Selection Species for use in the

Surrounds have been selected for their suitability to

ability to attract local birds and insects, drought

to create a visual link between spaces and a common

Acacia suaveolens (Sweet Wattle) Allocasuarina paradoxa

9 Vegetation Plan Species Selection Species for use in the Biodiversity Beds, School Entrance and Building Surrounds have been selected for their suitability to the soils and conditions at the site, visual appeal, ability to attract local birds and insects, drought tolerance, availability, robustness and low maintenance requirements. Different combinations of these plants will be repeated to create a visual link between spaces and a common theme throughout the school. Acacia suaveolens (Sweet Wattle) Allocasuarina paradoxa (Dwarf Sheoak) Banksia marginata (Silver Banksia) Bossiaea cinerea (Showy Bossiaea) Cassinia aculeata (Common Cassinia) Correa reflexa (Common Correa) 9

10 Dianella revoluta (Black anther Flaxlily) Eucalyptus scoparia (Wallangarra White Gum) Eucalyptus viminalis ssp pryoriana (Coast Manna Gum) Lepidosperma concavum (Sandhill Sword sedge) Leptospermum myrsinoides (Silky Tea tree) Themeda triandra (Kangaroo Grass) 10

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13 Appendices Engagement and ideas development 13

Overport Primary School Landscape Masterplan

Overport Primary School Landscape Masterplan Endorsements Endorsement by School Principal and School Council President Name of Principal: Julie Gleeson Principal s signature: Date: 26 th May, 2017 Name