The Maleny Community Precinct is a 126 ha parcel of former farmland in local authority ownership. The site has some significant heritage and environmental values, including Fairview: a heritage listed building.

Engaged in 2009 whilst at GMG, Greg lead a team of consultants in the development of a master plan for the site. This involved substantial stakeholder and community engagement resulting in a robust master plan. The plan included a community golf course, sporting facilities, aquatic centre, community facilities, preservation of the heritage building (into an interpretation centre), a Landcare environmental centre and nursery, an environmental park and a public trail connecting the precinct to the town.

The latter has provided ongoing work through the development of the trail. This has involved developing a trail that embraces the different experiences along the trail and opportunities for interpretation. Our work has included ground truthing and pegging the alignment, detailed design and documentation.

In 2015 we prepared a wayfinding and interpretation signage strategy for the extended trail network of 4.2km connecting the Maleny Showgrounds to the Precinct. This work also involved stakeholder and community consultation developing into detailed design and site implementation of both the wayfinding and interpretation components.

This project demonstrates an excellent facility for the local and broader community with significant heritage, community and environmental sustainability outcomes.

Dates:

Master Plan 2009-2010

Maleny Trail 2011-2012 (GMG)

Maleny Trail 2012-2014 (GTLA)

Maleny Trail 2014-2015

Trail Wayfinding and Interpretation Signage 2015-2016

Location:

Maleny, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Status:

Opened in mid-2015

Personnel:

Greg Thomas – project director

Sophie Fossey – project lead

Project Phase:

Master Plan through to Construction Services

Client:

Sunshine Coast Council

Collaborators:

Sunshine Coast Council

Maleny Community Precinct Stakeholders

Sustainability & Innovation

• Alignment of trail to capture key environmental and cultural heritage features for interpretation and education benefits

Photograph Credit:

Greg Thomas