endorsed by School Council 29 October 2012
Overport Primary School Landscape Masterplan
Overport Primary School Landscape Masterplan 2012‐2017
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Endorsements
Endorsement by School Principal and School Council President
Name of Principal: Julie Gleeson
Principal’s Signature:
Date:
Name of School Council President: Brett White
School Council President’s signature:
Date:
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Introduction
Established in 1957, Overport Primary School is located on an attractive gently sloping site in
the City of Frankston, adjoining Frankston High School and opposite Delacombe Park . The
extensive school grounds incorporate an oval, synthetic grass soccer field, running track, half
tennis court, rebound ace basketball court, cricket pitch, three playgrounds and large open
areas with mature shade trees.
The school is in the process of completing a major building project which will see an almost
complete replacement of old buildings with new ones.
The Overport Primary School Landscape Master Plan directs the future development and
operation of the school grounds and enhances the ability of the school to grow as one of choice
for education, arts and environmental sustainability.
Background
During 2011 the Buildings and Grounds Sub‐Committee expressed a desire to improve the
landscape values of the school and to provide better opportunities for student learning
outcomes to be linked to these values.
It was agreed that the Sub‐Committee would deliver a Landscape Masterplan (The Plan) for the
school. A key part of this would be a full engagement process with the school community prior
to development of The Plan, in order to gather thoughts and ideas about the school landscape,
present and future. The resulting thoughts and ideas would form the basis of The Plan.
A Landscape Working Group was established, made up of members of the Buildings and
Grounds Sub‐Committee and an interested teacher, to deliver the engagement process and to
draft The Plan.
Teachers, students and parents provided their thoughts and ideas in a process which took place
during the third and fourth terms of 2011. The Landscape Working Group compiled this
information (Appendix 1), sorting it into themes which were then used to form the basis for The
Plan.
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Aims
To develop a 5 year plan for the landscape at Overport Primary School
To improve the school landscape as a place for learning, play and discovery
To identify and enhance links between the landscape and the core curriculum of the school
To contribute to the biodiversity values of the Frankston area
Site Values and Constraints
A number of important site values and constraints have been identified to help guide The Plan,
including:
existing tree canopy
proposed and existing building footprint
large open areas
proposed netball court, location yet to be determined
existing playgrounds and active recreation areas such as the oval, soccer pitch and
basketball court
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Themes
Seven key themes set the focus for the Overport Primary School landscape. They are:
1. Biodiversity Beds
Located along the western and northern boundaries, these visually appealing beds will
focus on recreating habitat for some of Frankston’s indigenous plants (see page 9), birds
and insects. Hands on interaction with the wonders of the local environment will be
greatly enhanced with the establishment of these beds.
2. Food Gardens
Located next to the oval and the senior playground, these gardens will include
vegetables, herbs and a composting area, as well as a substantial and diverse orchard.
They will provide numerous opportunities for learning and will be linked to activities
undertaken in the Towerhill Learning Centre (TLC) kitchen.
3. Japanese Garden
Providing a space for quiet contemplation and including water as a theme, this garden
will be located next to the new library and will enhance the Japanese program.
4. Gardens for Grades
Exploration, experimentation, involvement, creativity and fun are the drivers for
Gardens for Grades. These will be located in the heart of the school surrounded by
buildings and will provide opportunities for grades to develop and maintain their own
gardens along a theme of their making. The inclusion of artistic installations will be
encouraged.
5. Shade and Shelter
Enhancing the existing tree canopy to provide more shade and shelter will focus on the
following
Evergreens along the linear zone immediately east of the soccer pitch and
rebound wall, and next to the Administration Building
Deciduous trees along the northern side of all buildings, providing summer shade
and winter light consistent with sound energy conservation principles
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Open canopy evergreens at the entrance to the school, particularly in front of
the TLC and between Building 2 and the Hall
6. School Entrance and Building Surrounds
Existing landscaping at the front entrance to the school, including the Flowering Gum
canopy, paving and rock work, will be enhanced and extended to the TLC area and to
the surrounds of the new buildings. The goal is to create an attractive, inviting entry
precinct, using Australian native and indigenous plants, and to continue this theme to
discrete areas around the new school buildings.
7. Kick Catch and Run
Existing sporting areas will be enhanced with a new netball court, new four square
courts and a refurbishment of the school oval.
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Projects
Theme Project Timeframe Budget Leader
Biodiversity
Beds
Stage 1 (running track to Summit Rd
entrance) preparation and planting
2012‐2013 $2000 Bill Mallinson
Stage 1 bed protection (shade cloth) 2012 n/a Marie Yanni
Stage 2 (length of oval, north side)
preparation and planting
2014‐2015 $2000 Bill Mallinson
Food Gardens Vegie garden 2012‐2013 tbc Rachael Higgins
Orchard 2013 tbc Rachael Higgins
Watering system 2013 tbc Daniel Cole and
James Lorrimer
Japanese
Garden
Garden design 2013 tbc Tomoko and
Adrian Vitale
Hard landscaping and planting 2014 tbc Tomoko and
Adrian Vitale
Gardens for
Grades
Garden bed design and construction 2013 $1000 Marie Yanni
Shade and
Shelter
Rebound wall / soccer pitch (length of,
east side)
2012 $200 Rachael Higgins
Hall / TLC north side 2012 $1000 Bill Mallinson
Admin building (west side) 2013 $280 Bill Mallinson
School Entrance
and Building
Surrounds
School entrance / TLC 2012 $8000 Daniel Cole
Building surrounds (post construction) 2013 tbc Bill Mallinson
Kick Catch and
Run
4 square courts 2012 n/a John Hearn
Netball court (new) 2014 tbc John Hearn
School oval refurbishment (top dress /
repair holes / replace goal posts)
2014 tbc James Lorrimer
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Supporting Initiatives
Frankston Teachers Environment Network
Facilitated by Frankston City Council's Environment Department, the Network provides an
effective communication avenue between Council and schools and a valuable forum for
teachers to meet professionally.
Key features of the program include information and presentations on environmental resources and programs, professional development on environmental topics (composting and worm farming in schools, vegetable gardening, Resource Smart Schools, seed propagation) and tours of other schools to share achievements.
Resource Smart Schools
The ResourceSmart Schools Program consists of five modules which schools progress through
along their journey towards sustainability. The modules are Core, Energy, Waste, Water and
Biodiversity. Overport Primary has commenced the Core module of the program, with its Plant
Savers group playing an active role in sustainability at the school. The program is managed by
Sustainability Victoria and supported by the Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development (DEECD) and delivered by CERES Community Environment Park.
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Vegetation Plan
Species Selection
Species for use in the Biodiversity Beds, School Entrance and Building Surrounds have been
selected for their suitability to the soils and conditions at the site, visual appeal, ability to
attract local birds and insects, drought tolerance, availability, robustness and low maintenance
requirements.
Different combinations of these plants will be repeated to create a visual link between spaces
and a common theme throughout the school.
Acacia suaveolens (Sweet Wattle) Allocasuarina paradoxa (Dwarf
Sheoak)
Banksia marginata (Silver Banksia)
Bossiaea cinerea (Showy Bossiaea) Cassinia aculeata (Common
Cassinia)
Correa reflexa (Common Correa)
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Dianella revoluta (Black‐anther Flax‐
lily)
Eucalyptus scoparia (Wallangarra
White Gum)
Eucalyptus viminalis ssp pryoriana
(Coast Manna Gum)
Lepidosperma concavum (Sandhill
Sword‐sedge)
Leptospermum myrsinoides (Silky
Tea‐tree)
Themeda triandra (Kangaroo Grass)
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Appendices
Engagement and ideas development