FAQs

The Blackwood Community Hub facility is a 1,900m2 two-storey building which will offer a public library on the ground floor, community facilities on the first floor, and north and south entries that open onto the popular Waite Street Reserve.

The Blackwood Community Hub offers the community exciting new spaces and services including a community kitchen, a ‘maker space’ - a workshop area for learning, outdoor seating area, gallery space and digital lounge.

Traditional services include a range of flexible community meeting rooms/spaces supported by a kitchen servery, public toilets, lounge areas, dedicated children’s and youth areas, an integrated toy library, collection spaces, and information/customer service desk. Administrative, delivery, storage, and processing areas are also included. Additional car parking will be offered.

There is a $12 million budget that is supported by funding of $5 million committed by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, $3.5 million under a State Government Local Government Infrastructure Grant, and Council funding of $3.5 million new capital and $710,000 recurrent operating.

Construction is anticipated to commence in November 2021 with the North Western Car park, and the Hub building in early 2022 - subject to all required approvals and processes being met.

 The Blackwood Community Hub facility is proposed to be located at the south portion of Waite Street Reserve. Carparking is proposed at the north-west portion of the land.

A Community Management Plan sets a council’s objectives and proposals for the management of the land to which the CLMP relates as well as performance targets and how the council proposes to measure its performance against its objectives and performance targets. 

The Local Government Act 1999 (Act) requires councils to prepare and adopt a management plan for all Community Land which is owned by council or under council’s care, control and management (with the exception of roads), but only when the land; 

• Is subject to a lease or licence or 
• Has been or will be specifically modified or adapted for use by the community e.g. Land that has had things installed on it such as a playground or shelter. 

What information goes into a CLMP is governed by the Act and councils must ensure that in accordance with section 196(3) of the Act a CLMP-

a. identifies the land to which it applies; and 

b. states the purpose for which the land is held by the council; and 

c. states the council's objectives, policies (if any) and proposals for the management of the land; and 

d. states performance targets and how the council proposes to measure its performance against its objectives and performance targets. 

City of Mitcham’s (Mitcham) Community Land Management Plans (CLMP) were adopted in 2004. 

The CLMPs at Mitcham (like at most other councils) remained unchanged since they were first drafted. 

It is timely to review CLMPS to ensure they are meeting our community’s changing needs, and to facilitate the development of the Blackwood Community Hub facility on Waite Street Reserve.

Based on the requirements of the Act the Council has divided each of its CLMPs into the following sections. 

1. Land identification details 

2. Purpose for which the land is held 

3. Reason why management plan is required 

4. Objectives for the management of the land 

5. Policies for management of the land 

6. Proposals for the management of land 

7. Performance targets 

8. Performance measures 

9. Leases and licences 

10. Schedules 

These sections are further explained below; 

1. Land identification details 

This section contains the basic details needed to identify the land. 

This section includes; name, address, CT details and area. This is also where any details of an encumbrance, trust or dedication are detailed. 

2. Purpose for which the land is held 

Details why the land is retained by council as Community Land. 

This details what the community use it for or what significance it has to the Council. This could be for sport or in the case of a bushland reserve to protect the area’s biodiversity assets or a native species of flora or fauna. 

3. Reason why management plan is required 

a. (b) the land is, or is to be, occupied under a lease or licence; or 

b. (c) the land has been, or is to be, specifically modified or adapted for the benefit or enjoyment of the community. 

The reasons why a council requires a management plan are set out in the Act 

S 196(1) A council must prepare and adopt a management plan or management plans for its 

Community Land if— 

One of or both (b) and (c) may apply for a piece of land, the wording contained within act may be paraphrased to reflect the land. This section also lists all existing modifications and assets currently on the land. 

4. Objectives for the management of the land 

A statement of the overall objective/s that council wants to achieve 

Objectives should consider the uses and potential uses of the land as well as consider the landscape of the area. If there are any unique features or heritage consideration this should be addressed in the objectives. It is also important that none of the objectives contradict each other making it difficult to achieve both when making decisions. 

5. Policies for management of the land 

A list of plans, strategies and policies that relate to the use of the land and its objectives and to land of the kind being a dealt with. 

This section is a simple list of the above divided by specific and general policies. 

6. Proposals for the management of land 

The current or future intent or plans for the land which may be an actual planned project or allow for something that is not at the site currently to be located there in the future. 

7. Performance targets 

Performance targets refer to the standard, which is proposed to be met, therefore it is important they are achievable and can be measured. They must be realistically attainable and relate back to the objectives. 

8. Performance measures 

A statement of how Council proposes to measure whether its meeting its performance targets and objectives. 

This section does not set out how the targets will be achieved but looks at how the Council will measure whether the targets and objectives have been achieved. This must also be realistic and achievable. 

9. Leases and licences 

Broad details of what will be required by any current or future leases/licences 

This section outlines what the leases will be for in a broad sense, they are not necessarily specific to one organisation or club. For example, support community sport. 

10. Schedules 

Table showing containing the performance targets and measures and showing their relationship to the objectives.