The Conjola Connected Communities masterplan and Yooralla Bay Concept Design have been prepared on behalf of the Conjola Community Recovery Association. These are documents to assist the future redevelopment of the area following the catastrophic bushfires of 2019/2020. A link to the full document version is available for the Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and the Yooralla Bay Plan.
These are ideas about how the rebuilding of a special place like Lake Conjola could become a key part of the recovery and healing process. It is a vision of a community that becomes more resilient, more inclusive and more sustainable than it ever has been.
It is a collection of perceived needs, urgent adaptions required and potential opportunities. An overarching plan that can be used to identify important improvements, and to develop the story about a collective of community places and connections. All to revitalise Lake Conjola’s villages and to care for the lake and bush.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
All future modules and projects that are part of this masterplan will follow common guiding design principles derived from the research contained in this plan.
All projects commenced as part of this plan will need to consider five themes and ask the question if the project will benefit and improve all of the following areas:
COMMUNITY WELLBEING
Does the project improve the community generally and benefit a large section of community members?
Does it offer ways for the community to come together, to share, to enhance lives?
NATURAL BEAUTY AND ENVIRONMENT
Does the project offer sustainability benefits?
Can it help to improve and heal the environment?
Matters to consider are flooding, bank stability, environmental corridors, biodiversity amongst many others.
RESILIENCE
Does the project contribute to building community resilience both in terms of natural disasters as well as future community development?
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Can the project assist the economic development of the area and deliver benefit beyond its immediate use?
BEAUTY AND DELIGHT
Is the project enhancing everyday life?
Does it contribute, compliment and not detract from the natural beauty of the Conjola area?
Projects that answer the above questions positively will ensure that Conjola continues to be acclaimed for its stunning environment and natural charm. The area will become an inspirational model of a community living and working together to adapt and respond to natural hazards and reach common and sustainable solutions which protect and conserve the lake and its catchment for future generations.
The concept design for Yooralla Bay at the western edge of the lake includes a lake front shelter to be utilised for community events that also contains a storage area for shared equipment to increase the villages resilience to future disasters. While the larger masterplan for the area details the lake edge bike path, community garden, playground and more, it also suggests a possible memorial on the lake to commemorate the devastating fires.