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 of School Council President: Jenny Sidwell School Council President s signature: Date: 29 th May, 2017 2

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 pitches, three playgrounds, netball court, veggie garden, Japanese garden and large open areas with mature shade trees. 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. This plan should be renewed every 5 years. A key part of this would be a full engagement process with the school community prior to the review of The Plan, in order to gather thoughts and ideas about the school landscape, present and future. Students involvement and voice will be encouraged. The resulting thoughts and ideas would form the future direction 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 2011. 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

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 existing playgrounds and active recreation areas such as the oval, soccer pitch and basketball court, including new proposal for play equipment and sporting facilities. effective site management of future buildings such as portables. 4

Themes Seven key themes set the focus for the Overport Primary School landscape. These are: 1. Biodiversity Beds Located along the western and northern boundaries, these visually appealing beds focuses 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 greatly enhances of these beds. 2. Food Gardens Located next to the oval and the senior playground, these gardens include vegetables, herbs and a composting area, as well as a substantial and diverse orchard. It will provide numerous opportunities for learning and is linked to activities undertaken by students. 3. Japanese Garden Providing a space for quiet contemplation, this garden is located between the library, administration and classrooms and enhances the Japanese program. 4. Sensory Garden Our sensory garden provides opportunity for tactile involvement. 5. Shade and Shelter Enhancing or maintaining 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, 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 Open canopy evergreens at the entrance to the school, particularly in front of the TLC and between Building 2 and the Hall Use of shade sails over playgrounds to provide adequate shelter 5

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 buildings. The goal is to continue to create an attractive, inviting entry precinct, using Australian native and indigenous plants, and to continue this theme to discrete areas around the school buildings. 7. Kick Catch and Run Existing sporting areas will be enhanced and maintain as identified by student s needs. These include: netball court, soccer pitch, 20-20 cricket pitches, oval, running track etc. 8. School seating and Barbeque To provide opportunities for using produce from Food gardens. To establish areas for parent community, students for a range of activities using both seating and barbeque area. 6

Projects Theme Project Timeframe Budget Leader 7

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 Training (DET) and delivered by CERES Community Environment Park. 8

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, and 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

Cherry Blossom (Prunus serrulata) Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) Manchurian Pear (Pyrus Ussuriensis) 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