Strategic Projects Office

The Strategic Projects Office (SPO) serves both Circular Head and Waratah-Wynyard Councils in the implementation of the various projects described within their respective endorsed Strategic Plans.

The SPO plans, designs and costs projects for consideration by Councillors, often some years ahead of actual implementation.  In this way, Councillors are assisted with the prioritising of projects to receive funding in any particular financial year through their annual budget deliberations.

Increasingly, this approach is also the only way for Councils to successfully apply for State or Federal Government funding assistance towards major projects.

The SPO endeavours to deliver creative, exciting and cost effective outcomes for the community by thinking laterally and working collaboratively.

CURRENT SPO PROJECTS FOR CIRCULAR HEAD COUNCIL

• EASTERN FORESHORE MASTERPLAN
  
  Council has directed the SPO to develop a Master Plan over the Eastern Foreshore of the Duck River in association with the Smithton wharf development, from Fossey Street in the south to Cantara Road in the north. The SPO is currently seeking ideas and comments from the community and will hold two (2) ‘walk ‘n talk’ sessions over the site on October 3 at 5.30pm and October 11 at 5.30pm.  Both sessions will commence at the East Esplanade boat ramp and all are welcome to participate.
  
• HARCUS RIVER ROAD UPGRADE
  
  Preliminary reports and surveys are being commissioned to prepare for future sealing and upgrading of this strategic access road.
  
• SMITHTON CBD UPGRADE - KING STREET
  
  Engineering infrastructure, traffic and parking design layouts have been drawn up.  The SPO will consult with stakeholders and prepare surface treatments, furniture and landscaping drawings.
  
• TIER HILL SCENIC LOOKOUT
  
  Following community consultation for an elevated hillside lookout with associated landscape plans the SPO prepared a budget submission for the 2012-2013 budget process. Currently insufficient funds to progress to development.
  
• SMITHTON WHARF REDEVELOPMENT
  
  W.E. Enkelaar Engineering Pty. Ltd. has been engaged to draft design concepts for wharf development.  Engineering firm GeoTon Pty. Ltd. has been commissioned to undertake a geotechnical survey of submerged land in the Duck River and its riparian river edge.  Following completion of this work, a development application will be lodged with Council for demolition and redevelopment of marine infrastructure.  Council is also pursuing a subdivision over riverfront land owned by Tasmanian Seafoods Pty. Ltd. to create an accessible public frontage to the Duck River in this area.
  
  
• SMITHTON MARINA SUBDIVISION
  
  Infrastructure works have been completed and it is anticipated a Final Survey Plan will be lodged with Council in the near future.
  
• SMITHTON LEISURE AND RECREATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN
  
  In December 2011 Council endorsed the Development Plan. The SPO will now progress with documentation for a new Aquatic Leisure Centre for the Circular Head community, as recommended in the Plan.
  
• CIRCULAR HEAD AQUATIC LEISURE CENTRE
  
  

  Following an extensive public information period, Council at a meeting held 19^th July 2012 endorsed the Smithton Central CBD site as the site for development of the Circular Head Aquatic Leisure Centre.  Council also asked the SPO to work with local allied health service, ‘Rural Health’, to progress an Agreement that they co-locate to the facility and form a key component of the users on site (in associated with a gym, multi-purpose room and cafe). 

  The (SPO) is working with Liminal Architecture and key stakeholders to finalise the project brief and progress detail design and documentation of the Aquatic Leisure Centre facility.   Traffic engineer, Milan Prodanovic, has been engaged to undertake a Traffic Impact Assessment and Management Plan.  Engineering firm GeoTon Pty. Ltd. has been engaged to undertake a geotechnical survey over the Smithton CBD site.  Such surveys will inform detail design.

• CIRCULAR HEAD OFFICES - UPGRADE INVESTIGATION
  
  The CHC office upgrade project is on hold pending clarification of legal requirements for documentation storage on site.  The size, location and access needs relative to document storage will have an impact on office layouts.
• FREE CAMP SITE FOR SELF CONTAINED RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
  

  Circular Head Council has directed the SPO to undertake investigations of sites in the Circular Head municipal area that would be suitable for self contained recreational vehicles. A report will be placed before Council outlining site options and management options for Redpa, Marrawah, Smithton, Irishtown, Dip Falls, Stanley and any other sites discovered.

• TRETHEWIES LOOKOUT, STANLEY - DEVELOPMENT PLAN
  
  Project is on hold pending future funding options.
  
• BACON FACTORY ROAD, SMITHTON - WALKING TRAIL INVESTIGATION
  
  Cost estimates were examined by Council in the 2012-2013 budget process.  Currently insufficient funds to progress to design and documentation of pathway.
  
• SMITHTON TOWN ENTRY - LANDSCAPE PLAN
  
  The SPO will prepare a Landscape plan for the Bass Highway entry zone to Smithton.

CURRENT SPO PROJECTS FOR WARATAH-WYNYARD COUNCIL

• RICHARD GUTTERIDGE GARDENS AND WYNYARD WATERFRONT - LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
  
  The Richard Gutteridge Gardens and Wynyard Waterfront Landscape Development Plan has been endorsed by Council. The plan will assist Council to plan and budget for future works and upgrades that may be required to see the strategy become a reality over a number of years. Following adoption of the Landscape Development Plan, the Gutteridge Gardens Identification sign, as detailed in the Plan, will be commissioned and placed on site, as will a sign depicting the whole of the intent of the Landscape Development Plan.  The SPO is in discussions with Wynyard Rotary to see if there is a project, within the intent of the Development Plan, that can be undertaken in co-operation with Council in the 2013-2014 financial year.
  
  
• CAM RIVER FORESHORE RESERVE - LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
  
  Council has endorsed the Cam River Foreshore Landscape Development Plan.  It is now incumbent upon Council and staff to progress the Plan as budgets and opportunities allow.  A sign depicting the Landscape Development Plan is to be placed on site.
  
  
• BOAT HARBOUR BEACH- PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION AND CAR PARKING IMPROVEMENTS
  
  The SPO is seeking community feedback on a proposed infrastructure plan to improve pedestrian safety and circulation at Boat Harbour Beach and to upgrade the visibility and layout of existing car parking. The Key Objectives of the project are to:
• improve the safety of pedestrian circulation, particularly from the Boat Harbour Surf Club rooms to the public toilets and from the children’s playground to the public toilets;
• expand and enhance the ‘visibility’ of car parking spaces available on site;
• provide a dedicated emergency vehicle access area;
• provide designated disability parking area’s; and
• soften the materials used in the immediate vicinity of such works so as to enhance the beach foreshore and car park experience.
  
  
• WYNYARD FORESHORE MARKET
  
  A ‘discretionary’ development application is to be lodged with Development Services.  The DA will be accompanied by a Traffic Management Plan that seeks to impose speed limits over the area during market operational hours, ensuring best practice management of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
  

• CAMP CREEK – HYDROLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL STUDY

  Consulting firm ‘Entura’ are to undertake  a desktop  review of existing data  for the upper reached of the creek , on ground sampling in the lower, urban area and production of options and cost estimates for Creek improvements, based on all data collected. 

• WARATAH-WYNYARD COUNCIL OFFICES - UPGRADE INVESTIGATIONS
  
  

  The SPO will consult with Councillors and staff on office upgrade priorities, with a particular emphasis on the improvement of service delivery.

• NURSES RETREAT
  
  

  Council has commissioned storm surge protection armour rock to the point at Nurses Retreat and the placement of up to six (6) Norfolk Island pine trees on site, following the completion of storm surge protection works. Works are expected to be completed by mid October – weather permitting.

• WYNYARD WHARF REDEVELOPMENT - LEASING AND WHARF MANAGEMENT
  
  

  The Wynyard wharf and associated pontoons are near completion, with the concrete apron between the car park and wharf and paving around ‘Wynyard Wharf Seafoods’ now completed. The wharf is to be opened by Deputy Premier Brian Green on Saturday 13 October 2012 at 11.30am.  All are welcome to attend. The SPO has liaised with the Wynyard Yacht Club to organise a ‘sail past’ on the Inglis River at that time.  Council will manage the public wharf area and recreational pontoon and are seeking Expressions of Interest from third parties who may be interested in managing the Commercial Pontoon section of the new facility.  Expressions of Interest have now closed.

  CURRENT COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WITH OTHER
  CIRCULAR HEAD COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS

• CIRCULAR HEAD URBAN AREAS - REVIEW OF EXISTING SERVICE AGREEMENTS (with "WORKS PLUS" DEPOT)
  
  The SPO is reviewing existing Agreements between Council and Works Plus with a view to improving resources to enable higher levels of maintenance in the public realm of, particularly, Smithton and Stanley.

• STANLEY RECREATION GROUND - ENTRY SIGNAGE (with COMMUNITY SERVICES and INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS)
  
  The SPO will design new, complying entry signage system containing the various messages required at Stanley Recreation Ground.

• STANLEY WALKING TRAILS SIGNAGE (with COMMUNITY SERVICES)
  
  The SPO is advising on design and location issues for the ongoing "rollout" of Stanley walking trails.

• CIRCULAR HEAD HALL OF FAME - INTERNAL FITOUT (with COMMUITY AND RECREATION CENTRE COMMITTEE)
  
  The SPO HAS provided design advice and facilitation for large scale display cases and special features such as the "Wall of Fame".

CURRENT COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WITH OTHER
WARATAH-WYNYARD COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS

• SOMERSET TENNIS COURTS AND BEACHFRONT (with WORKS AND SERVICES DEPOT)
  
  The SPO has produced an overall concept for infill planting and general landscape improvements to the Somerset Tennis Court Reserve.  Council’s Parks and Reserve staff are to implement the planting plan with SPO cooperation.
  

COMMISSIONED PROJECTS BY OTHERS

1.      Tasmanian Dairy Products Pty. Ltd. Smithton – Landscape Plan and ‘Corporate Entrance’ for new facility.  Landscape Plan submitted to TDP –implementation by sub contractor in progress.

2.      Cradle Mountain Water, Somerset – Storm Surge Protection to Waste Water Treatment Facility. Development Permits issued by WWC and the Crown.

3.      Cradle Mountain Water – Ulverstone - Expansion of Work/Storage Depot, Crib Rooms and Offices at Ulverstone Waste Water Treatment Plant.  Concept plans progressing to DA and BP applications with Central Coast Council.

4.      Cradle Mountain Water – Sheffield- New Crib Room, Depot, Office and Store at CMW Sheffield site.  Concept plans progressing to DA and BP applications with Kentish Council.

5.      In association with the SPO, Council’s Communications Officer has been commissioned to write a Social Media Strategy for the Meander Valley Council.