Kelvin Grove Urban Village is a 16-hectare mixed use, master planned community currently being developed on the western fringe of Brisbane CBD. It represents a unique collaboration between the Queensland Department of Housing and QUT. The Hornery Institute was initially engaged to undertake a score card evaluation of the structure plan for the site against a series of established key performance indicators and report the long term risk return profile of maintaining the current strategic direction. The outcomes from this exercise were then used to demonstrate to Cabinet and the University Senate the how the performance of the asset could be improved over time.
From its key recommendations, the Hornery Institute was subsequently commissioned to develop an integrated master plan incorporating strategies to achieve place making, community and cultural development, economic and social sustainability outcomes. Four Years later, our work has resulted in Kelvin Grove being acknowledged as a new address in the city fringe offering a lifestyle that is strongly associated with creativity and learning. The early urban identity (or place brand) developed for the project has started to attract land mark occupants such as the Queensland Creative Industries Academy and the Red Cross.
The Institute was further retained as the Community Development Manager with a focus on delivering a Community Hub activated with learning and cultural activities to encourage community participation and the development of social capital between traditional and emerging audiences. This project proved particularly significant with respect to brokering relationships between students and non student audiences as well as inter-generational programs, delivering supported IT access to non computer owners and delivering next generation cultural events to the local community.
This project is a great example of The Hornery Institute’s ability to operate in a highly complex political environment and steer inclusive decision making processes that meet Government requirements. It also demonstrates our long term commitment to our clients and communities.
Relevant Experience:
Community and cultural mapping exercises; extensive visioning work; audience segmentation; design and delivery of multiple consultation and market testing programs; high level stakeholder management; project governance; master planning and place making; Cultural development and community activation were also essential to all aspects of our work.