The Project

Conversation Caravan planned and delivered a communication and engagement program for the Bass Coast Council to explore interim and long term options for the Olive Justice Place site located in the centre of Cowes, Phillip Island. The project aimed to understand community priorities and provide recommendations for short and long term use of the site while Council considered the long term uses of the site.

At the time Council was considering three options for this site - sell the land for development, keep the land and continue using it as a carpark or explore community uses (arising from the engagement). A cost benefit analysis was conducted by Council alongside this project, with information from the consultation and research informing Council’s eventual decision.

This project took place in July 2020 during a time when Victorians were in significant lockdown protocols. This required us to think differently about how to engage with immediate residents and users of the space, and the holiday makers that form a significant portion of the site's user group. We recorded our audit of the site, its current uses, challenges and opportunities through an urban design lens. Installed signage and promotional material within nearby cafes and supermarkets, created an interactive page using Social Pinpoint and promoted talking the family to walk or cycle the site (if within 5kms).

Outcomes

A total of 203 people were consulted as part of this project including residents, businesses, community organisations and visitors. With strong support for keeping the land in Council’s ownership, 90% and that the site was detracting from the heart of Cowes. With 72% of participants (147 participants) wanting to see it being used for something other than a carpark; and 51% of participants (103) wanting the area to be used as green space in the future.

Olive Justice Place now officially named in Olive's honour

July 2022

It’s heart-warming to see the community’s ideas take shape and definitely a place worth visiting. This public space in Cowes, off Chapel St was locally known as Olive Justice Place and used primarily as a carpark and back of house area for nearby shops.

In 2020 we ran an engagement program with Bass Coast Council to draw out community ideas and experiences that could be accommodated onsite.

Most important was keeping the land in Council’s ownership and using it for something other than a carpark. With its preferred use a green space, in the heart of Cowes, protected from the Westernport winds. Bass Coast Council has certainly delivered this community experience.