LPC designed and facilitated a workshop aiming to facilitate discussions between the Eumundi community and Sunshine Coast Council.
Situation Explained
Sunshine Coast Council proposed the Memorial Drive Streetscape project in 2020, with the primary goal of improving the infrastructure and livability of the area. In 2023, the Sunshine Coast Council engaged Leisa Prowse Consulting to plan and facilitate an in-person community workshop, with the goal of enabling discussion amongst different community groups. This was a part of the detailed design phase of the project.
We worked collaboratively with the Council Placemaking team to understand the context of the project, especially the common themes that emerged out of Council’s initial online workshop.
The social and historical context of Eumundi a key element of the engagement. Community dynamics in Eumundi were carefully considered during the workshop design process, particularly the differences in perspective between local residents and market visitors.
LPC worked with the project team to understand outcomes from the engagement during preliminary design and pre-existing concerns to ensure that the workshop would allow the community to share diverse perspectives. Pre-existing community concerns included concerns about tailoring the design to the character of Eumundi and retaining the significance of Memorial Drive.
Our Approach
The workshop provided opportunity for Eumundi representatives to ask questions and provide feedback with technical experts from Council on-hand to answer questions. The Placemaking Workshop aimed to build trust between Council and community through a deeper understanding of the streetscape project. It was crucial to allow participants the time to process information, ask clarifying questions and discuss their thoughts at their table groups. The workshop also enabled community members to connect over their shared love and passion for Eumundi.
Throughout the day, workshop attendees:
- Explored the project, including the elements that had informed the design
- ‘Unpacked’ the design, specifically in relation to: place, character and heritage; and pedestrian movement, traffic and parking
- Shared their ideas in relation to: signage and wayfinding; storytelling, art and interpretation; and community and business led activation.
Results
At the end of the workshop attendees reflected on the day and provided the following observations:
- The workshop created a stronger sense of connection between Eumundi community stakeholders and Council’s project team.
- The opportunity to listen to more detailed information was very valuable.
- The project focuses on three areas which have been designed to ensure heritage is acknowledged and built in.
- Everyone was respectful at the workshop.
- The project team have been sensitive to Eumundi.
- The understanding developed during the workshop will help to keep communication with the community open.
- The detailed design ‘book’ used at the workshop was ‘brilliant’ and helped explain the project. There was a view that it is an historical document that could be shared with the community in the future.
Workshop attendees also:
- Indicated that they felt grateful to be able to participate and help lead for the future of Eumundi
- Thanked Council for the extra investment in community engagement, particularly the workshop, declaring it had been worth it
- Indicated that they felt understood and energised
- Raised the idea of working with Council to develop a ten-year masterplan for Eumundi.
At the conclusion of the placemaking workshop, evaluation sheets were given to participants to hear their feedback about the workshop. Many participants stated that they left the workshop with an acceptance of the project, and many more remarked that they gained a positive perspective about the potential benefits that the streetscape project could bring to Eumundi.
The workshop facilitated conversations that broke down pre-existing beliefs and enabled community members to connect not only with the council, but also with each other.
The streetscape project is currently under construction.