Masterplan
2 Bell St Eltham
Adopted on 27 August 2013. To be reviewed in 2017. Any leases and works will include
provision for this review point.
Project background
Development of the Bell Street Masterplan began in late 2011, after Nillumbik Shire
Council was formally appointed as Committee of Management and the land “deemed
temporarily reserved as a site for conservation, recreation, leisure and tourism purposes
pursuant to section 5 (1) of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978”. Following a series of
site analyses and engagement with community, this masterplan presents a vision for a
place important to the local people.
Project steps
About the site
Formerly a farm and market garden, the 4.87 hectares of land located at 2 Bell Street
Eltham abuts Diamond Creek and forms part of a significant corridor of environmental,
community and sporting facilities and spaces in Eltham. These include Eltham High
School, the Diamond Creek Trail, Wingrove Park, Barak Bushlands, Eltham Leisure
Centre, Alistair Knox Park, Eltham Community Reception Centre, Living & Learning
Nillumbik Eltham, Eltham Library, Susan Street Reserve, Eltham Rugby Club, Eltham BMX
track, Eltham Bowls Club and a skate park. Fifty-five per cent of the land area on 2 Bell
Street is riparian vegetation, reserved for conservation purposes (refer to Appendix A).
The site also has local heritage significance and is severely flood prone.
About the design
This masterplan attempts to present the general consensus of what people see happening
on this site drawing on public consultation and the technical assessments. This design
recognises that the land will continue to change and take shape as it evolves with use.
With this in mind, the design consists of two parts reflected in the following table.
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)
Title
Description
Led by
Part A: site remediation
Modifying and maintaining
land as passive public open
space (grading, planting,
paths and bollards)
Council
(short term: years 1-3 as
funding is available)
Part B: land reserved for
possible future uses
(medium to long term)
Land will be reserved by
Community (supported by
Council)
Council for the other
possible uses indicated on
the masterplan. Council
may allow these uses only if
it receives and endorses a
suitable proposal from the
community.
Design vision
This masterplan aims to establish Bell Street as a place for all ages to stop and interact
with the local community, nature and history. The space should also complement other
public spaces in the area. It will be a site that evolves over time, with the potential for
urban agriculture to provide an anchor for other activities that all align to the site’s history
and identity and the community’s passion for the site.
Implementation approach
Appendix A shows the masterplan layout. The elements are listed in the table below.
Additional detail can be found in Appendix B including:

considerations relating to each identified use that is included in the masterplan

uses that are identified as inappropriate for the site (including organised sport, fenced
dog exercise enclosure, additional footbridge to Wingrove Park).
Category
Part A: site remediation plan (1-3 years)
Part B: land reserved for possible future
uses
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)
Elements

Grading and planting of grass and trees
(indigenous or fruit)

Bollards

Paths

Regular maintenance

Cultural, historical and environmental
signage and interpretation

Netball and basketball half court

Parking (car and bicycle)

Play area
Category
Elements

Shaded barbeque area

Shed, water, drink fountains, power and
mural

Street furniture (bins, picnic tables,
benches and pod seating)

Urban agriculture/community garden
For More Information
For more information on this Masterplan visit www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/BellStreet, email
community@nillumbik.vic.gov.auor call 9433 3723.
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)
Appendix A: Masterplan Layout
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)
Appendix B: Additional detail
Overall design rationale
To accommodate the various intensities of use identified for the site, the masterplan
broadly consists of three activity zones. These can be reflected as rings centred around
the shed (refer to figure below).
1. The inner zone is where the density of activity is greatest and surrounded by play area,
courts and bbq. Here people might participate in meetings, training, games and group
activities. It is anticipated there would be extensive seating in this area.
2. The middle zone is where the picnic and open space activities might occur such as
casual soccer and kite flying. Trees in this zone should provide shade and a sense of
enclosure without being too enclosed.
3. The outer zone is adjacent to the bushland and creek. This is a more tranquil area for
people to sit, reflect, take in the scenery and casually chat.
Part A: Site remediation
The following work can be completed as soon as funding is available and is what Council
will give priority to in the next one to three years.
Use
Considerations
Grading, planting and regular maintenance
The site will be graded to remove weeds,
furrows and irrigation pipes. Pockets of
indigenous vegetation will be used to
provide shade, a sense of enclosure and a
sense of entry for the paths. The design
includes large grassed areas for easy
maintenance, accessible open space and
flexibility for future developments.
Bollards
Bollards will replace the current fence to
give permeability for pedestrians and
protection from unauthorised vehicle entry.
Paths
The main trail on Bell Street should be
widened to 3 metres on a 1 metre grass
‘run off’ to accommodate commuter
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)
Use
Considerations
cyclists. Paths within the site will be 1.8
metres and 1.5 metres according to
hierarchy of use.
Part B: Land reserved for possible future uses
This concept design reflects the potential uses that Council will reserve land for at 2 Bell
Street. Activation of the uses on the land is subject to Council receiving and approving a
suitable proposal from the community, in keeping with Council’s strategies and policies
(including masterplan background documents listed on page 8). It assumes that uses are
initiated by the community, appropriately developed and established over time. Council will
welcome any project idea that aligns with this masterplan. For further advice contact
Council using the details listed on page 3.
Use
Considerations
Barbecue
Modest BBQ facilities located adjacent to
shed to increase activation. May include
shade area.
Cultural, heritage and environmental
signage and interpretation and formal
naming of the site
Trails, art and signage that add interest,
beauty, inclusion, activation and a sense of
identity to the site are all worthy
considerations – particularly where they
draw on the Indigenous and nonIndigenous history of the site.
Netball/basketball half court
A half court that maintains the emphasis
on casual use without attracting large
crowds.
Parking (car and bicycle)
Unsealed, off-street parking is configured
to reduce amenity impacts and minimise
any physical and visual barrier to the site,
particularly between the school and the
site. Up to 20 car spaces depending on
site use. High visibility bike parking would
help to discourage car use.
Play area
A natural play area that might incorporate
themes of the precinct. May be as simple
as boulders, logs and a sand pit.
Shed, water, drink fountain, power and
mural
Shed is maintained initially as storage for
community activities. Essential safety
measures will need to be considered if the
shed is to be occupied by people. Mural on
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)
Use
Considerations
the side of the shed will improve the visual
impact and graffiti management of the site.
Some amenities can be included in or near
the shed such as a sink, drink fountain,
internal lighting and power. A service
entrance could be located to the south of
the shed.
Street furniture
Tables, chairs, benches, pod seating, etc –
seating that is disability accessible and that
promotes face to face interaction. Furniture
could be individually designed and creative
but must be well secured to avoid theft.
Limited number of rubbish bins.
Urban agriculture/community garden
Local residents have identified that a
communal garden has potential to provide
a shared social experience that draws on
the agricultural heritage of the site. This
use will potentially provide a valuable
anchoring presence on the site.
For Council to approve such activity for the
site, an appropriate group must first submit
a feasibility study that considers the
following:
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)

That it complements existing facilities
including Edendale - Council’s main
investment into community garden
infrastructure.

A plan that details aspects such as
governance, broad community support
and participation, income and
expenditure, infrastructure, plant
selection (non-pest), operational
procedures, safety, etc.

Securing necessary resources and
facilities (eg funding, water)

Operational sustainability – considering
that it would be initially installed as a
trial.
Uses not accommodated in the masterplan
During consultation a range of other uses were raised by the community. Council has
determined that it will not include these in the masterplan for the stated reasons or that it
requires additional analysis before it will give them further consideration.
Use
Explanation
Bee hives
Bee hives have historically existed at the
site but are not considered appropriate for
the future role of the site as a public park.
Sporting use
Due to traffic congestion, flood potential,
limited space and amenity impacts of
lighting, this site is inappropriate for
organised team sports.
Footbridge to Wingrove Park
Not considered a priority given proximity to
footbridge at the corner of Bell Street and
Withers Way.
Further analysis
Fenced dog exercise enclosure and
offleash area
Dog facilities will be considered further in a
shirewide study due by 30 June 2014.
There is an interest in a small fenced dog
exercise yard with jumps and activities.
There is also an interest in designated offleash dog areas that can provide an
alternative to dog walking on sports ovals.
Traffic congestion and limited site
accessibility mean that 2 Bell St is not an
optimum location for townwide dog
facilities.
Toilets
Toilet provision will be considered further in
a shirewide study due by 30 June 2014.
Consideration of toilets for the area will
depending on level of use of the site. This
could consider the following options (in
order of preference):
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)

public accessible toilet included in the
Eltham Leisure Centre redevelopment

accessible toilet installed in the shed and
available when the shed is in use

separate amenity block located on the
Bell Street site.
Use
Explanation
Miniature railway extension
Further feasibility studies would be
required before a miniature railway could
be considered for the site.
Related documents
All documents are available on Council’s website: www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/bellstreet:

Design workshop transcript (February 2013)

Issues and Options Paper (January 2013)

Community Vision and Functional Uses (September 2012)

Urban Design Site and Context Assessment

Cultural Heritage Significance Assessment (February 2012)

Flora and Fauna Assessment

Traffic and Parking Assessment

Bell Street Environmental Assessment
Masterplan for 2 Bell Street Eltham (August 2013)