Omeo Justice Precinct Master Plan

Responses of the Omeo Historical Society (OHS) to the Omeo Justice Precinct (OJP) Masterplan Report, and Omeo Justice Precinct: Heritage Analysis: Summary of Issues and Opportunities
The headings are taken from either of these reports.

Masterplan report executive summary: These reports do not consider the certainty of National Significance or the probability of being part of a World Heritage Goldfields Trail. Documentation around this Heritage Trail shows that even if the OJP were not to be included in the World Heritage Trail, Beechworth will be and Walhalla is already put up for tentative listing in the first stage of the Heritage Trail and using the Great Alpine Road as a link. The heritage-based tourism this will bring really makes The Omeo Justice Precinct the “jewel in the crown” for Omeo and East Gippsland.
EGSC insistence that the Mountain Bike infrastructure (MTB) is the prime focus of all activity fails to understand that the OJP is likely a stronger factor and one that will bring greater returns and without the expense of the MBT.
We also take issue with their description of the Park which they saw on a snowy day. The Park has been closed for conservation work for 6 years. It is a construction site. It is still a commanding and powerful site.

Consultants Briefing /Ecodev: It appears the consultants were briefed by EGSC on the basis that an economic imperative existed requiring commercial use of the OJP. They had a misconception of the cost of the Omeo Justice Precinct. Council workers have misread their own budget, taking the cost of the conservation work as the annual cost of running the Park. In fact, we receive no income from EGSC. They were also briefed that the OHS had to be removed from the Police Residence. This has been shown on the masterplan from the start of this current project and in the Paul Holton Report.
The first public consultation with us and representatives from other sectors of the community began with the words of the ecodev manager that “this (OJP) is another council property”. We corrected that statement, EGSC are the Committee of Management of a very significant place and have the privilege of caring for the site on behalf of the Victorian people. The EGSC has been the COM since it began in 1994. The OHS volunteers have protected this site as best they can, as the COM has not been active in that role, and it has been a matter of continually trying to get some assistance from EGSC. There is no one to contact who has responsibility for heritage sites. Some councilors and some staff do try and help but EGSC has no heritage management. It is especially important that the COM must follow heritage principles, not commercial ones. The OHS must be a significant part of the proposed new COM.

BURRA Charter and ACRE principles: The OHS have spoken with many heritage people over the years and been told repeatedly that the OHS is of world class standard in heritage terms and it seems they were correct, with the site now quite possibly to become part of a UNESCO World Heritage Trail in coming years. It is with certainty of National significance. Even if it remained at a State level of significance the same argument would apply. The site is worth many millions of dollars to Omeo and East Gippsland as a destination.
EGSC had no right to decide the economic imperative and removal of the OHS based in the old Police residence as preconditions to the outcome of these consultative processes. Using that condition to needlessly alter the building and purpose, thereby destroying significance, is a serious failure to follow BURRA principles. The relationship between the OHS and this site is well established. Choosing to remove us from the residence would be to damage the significance of the site. We did inform the consultants of the documents that show the way the components of the site were accumulated by the OHS from 1973 to around 1985. They show that the OHS was given the residence and its site by the State of Victoria. The OHS is the principal name but the transfer included the shire. This was the final piece that made the AM Pearson Historic Park complete. The council yard was given to the OHS and appears in the Government Gazette of 1981. The New Court was approved for use as a Court and Museum by the State Government. The use of the old court, jail and stable buildings was given by the Shire of Omeo.
When the Shire of Omeo agreed in 1994 that the OHS have a caretaker for the site, it also said that the local Government agreement would not transfer with the change to EGSC, but they expected they would continue with it. In about 1996, the EGSC CEO told the OHS to continue our presence on the site. That is what we did. The Park was listed in 1999. The Omeo Historical Society was the body who made the creation of the AM Pearson Park possible. The OHS still occupies the old police residence daily for its archive, object storage and research space.
In taking the commercial imperative and briefing the consultants accordingly, the EGSC is acting contrary to multiple heritage principles. Therefore, outcomes cannot be valid. Furthermore, EGSC is supposedly committed to ACRE principles which do not support competing with existing businesses, including accommodation.

Civic Heart: At Rodeo time there are few people in the center of town. They are at the Rodeo, why would you take people away from the event at the Recreation Reserve who need the income to survive. The Shire offices and Town Hall are already, proudly, the civic heart of town. It is an unrealistic assumption to make the Justice Precinct take over that role, when it already maintains a vibrant museum experience.

Tourism Market: The OHS work with the MTB management team and hope they remain in the council yard with what will hopefully be an area of heritage focused activity utilizing the local history collection from the Folk museum area. There is a strong connection between the MTB and the AM Pearson Historic Park (OJP). Pearson's grandfather was William Mesley. He owned Mt Mesley where the central MTB is situated and gave the land to the community for use on a recreational level. The tracks also utilize the heritage mining features of the Oriental Claims and Dry Gully.
As a nationally significant cultural heritage site, the funding levels available will change. The site will attract a consistent stream of visitors. The benefits will extend throughout the entire length of the Great Alpine Road.

Digital tourism: The local history collection can provide a story or an example of something on a wide variety of subjects connecting the community to the Law. There is an extraordinary opportunity here to provide something special. The resources of the Omeo Historical Society are deep and rich.

Our final comments: The consultants have provided a professional report based on their erroneous briefing from EGSC. We believe that had they been briefed using criteria more appropriate to the significances of the site and the town, and to be inclusive instead of exclusive of the OHS, the findings would be very different.
An online search indicates that 70 to 80 percent of the population believes heritage sites should be fully funded by the taxpayers. The percentage in the Omeo Region is possibly higher.
It’s not only the hard work of the principal community figures since 1964 when the Shire of Omeo created the Omeo Historical Society as a council subcommittee, who would be appalled at this report, but also the many, many local figures who have been a part of the OHS over its life, along with their families who are still strongly represented in the community.
We believe the council yard buildings should be dedicated to heritage, environment, and the lost arts, utilizing whatever parts of the local history collection are appropriate. The Old Police Residence should remain the Archive and Research Centre for the Omeo Historical Society, Commissioners Gully should be developed as a botanical garden for the pleasure of many rather than glamping, and the Shire Hall and Civic Centre should never, ever, be removed.

There needs to be a commercial advantage to maintain the Justice Precinct as a viable centre whether that be within the Courthouse itself or by utilising the current building as an overnight stay - it will raise capital but will also require further management obligations re its operations.
P6 - Re-use - upgrading / installation of kitchens etc for event utilisation is duplicating that provided in the Soldiers Memorial hall and then creates another burden on Shire or CoM to maintain. New -works - upgrade or rebuild the current public toilets could eliminate the need to build onsite toilet amenities. Lighting should be considered using solar power. Council depot space is an opportunity for extension of the facility or sell of the land for capital raising.
P11 - new build capacity in Omeo is to a certain extent governed by terrain & infrastructure to vacant land - power, water & sewerage and zoning.
P13 - management of site should be moved to a Committee of Management under Agreement with EGSC - annual allocation of funds from Shire & identified responsibilities for management
P14 - very few of the proposals outlined in the 2003 have been undertaken
P20 - 4.5 - not Omeo River swimming pool
P22 - Walks - Parks Vic or responsible management group need to maintain trails, upgrade signage & provide clearer directions for walks from & to the Claims area.
Livingstone Park - not Livingston (typo)
P23 - Other experiences - need to refer to a wider area - Nunniong, Anglers Rest, Cobungra etc - 4WD trips & include Benambra as a High Country town.
P24 - Target market -include motor bike groups and dirt bike groups as well
P24 - Key points - why is Omeo-Swifts Creek area identified when High Country areas are Anglers Rest, Cobungra, Benambra etc. These areas form part of our catchment in regards to population, given that below the Gap many travel towards Bairnsdale for services.
Proposal overall is sound. Need to better outline what the current Council Depot would specifically be used as if incorporated in the Precinct. Also need to include the potential for Omeo Soldiers Memorial Hall to be better utilised for larger events in conjunction with the New Courthouse.
Access to the Precinct could be enhanced by better utilising the Commissioners Gully area adjacent to Short Street. Potential to fill in this area, increase parking capacity, especially for coachloads as well as being able to get school buses off Day Ave, further increasing parking spaces. Currently if the intention is to get coachloads stopping at the Precinct there's minimal space for parking since the bus parking area at the west end of town is utilised by the MTB Shuttle services.
Omeo's main issue is terrain which creates difficulties for the less ambulant community members & visitors, so graduated access is critical if we are to attract the older tour groups. The same can be said for young families with children in pushers etc. A BBQ area, chn's playground & appropriate seating around the Precinct will encourage groups to stay longer.

I would love to see a Botanical garden and walk developed which follows Commissioners Gully as far as is possible to go. Alfred Howitt (former Gold Cissioner for Omeo) was a remarkable person and had great influence historically and in the field is of geology and botany. Information boards could be erected along a walk describing his work, what Omeo was like when he was here. You can see the remains of his dwelling and his paddock was behind the courthouse. Trees and shrubs that are indigenous to this area could be planted along a the walking track with identifying plates. Many species are named after him or by him. Eg sp Howittii, as well as Mt Howitt!
Benambra Dinner Plain Omeo Landcare (BDPO) would be very interested to partner with such a project. This is such a fantastic site for such a concept, right in the middle of the town and meandering around the Historical precinct.

I don’t think it’s necessary to include Glamping in this zone as in 12 years time it’s unlikely glamping (near a school) would be of any benefit to the town. Perhaps a nature based adventure play trail experience for families of younger children would be more appropriate?

It will be fantastic to have the justice precinct opened up and accessible with ramps/pathways that are accessible. The higher intervention stage 2 works have enormous potential to expand the townships centre however I understand there would likely be resistance unless residents had access to a modern multipurpose facility with the ability to offer what is currently offered by the Library, Community Hub, Hall, kitchen and indoor toilets and more. While the towns recreation reserve has fantastic facilities it will not replace the need for library and study hub access and a formal hall/indoor court space/large conference space. I would love to see a multipurpose conference, sports, hall type facility with a separate connected technologies room, library, & acces to shire services building in another location. When choosing this location it would be important to ensure Services Victoria Bus/Truck is able to be parked nearby. If going ahead with high intervention stage 2 changes it would be good to retain the most viable sections of the building to be turned into an information centre, (pop up) art gallery, local merchandise sales, and ?cafe/restaurant. My inspiration from this concept includes Bright’s information centre/Riverdeck Cafe, Corryong’s info centre/Man From Snowy River center.
I love that this concept makes use of the shire yard for commercial prospects, this would also be a fantastic space to host markets and other “street” trade should high intervention stage two plans be implemented as this area will be visible from the Main Street.

Glamping in this site should not be considered at any stage as it borders the primary school and would require full toilet/shower amenities and the Omeo Holiday Park has glamping which is a conflict of interest as the Holiday Park is leased from EGSC.
Short term accommodation is a no-no too for the site as feedback from Stayz/AirBnB landlord users say there is often abuse/damage of premises and overcrowding/overparking without very close supervision.
Moving the EGSC Works Depot to allow for offices/commercial use is gold.
Full marks for the High Intervention idea to open up the vista of the 'New' Courthouse.
Overall the Masterplan looks good but car-parking for visitors will have to be considered.