Rye Township Plan

The Rye Township will soon be a once again a vibrant thriving hub of activity for locals, holiday makers, and those who like to enjoy a road trip down to the peninsula on a lovely summer’s day. 

Image: Rye Township Plan

The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council adopted the ‘Rye Township Plan’ in December 2017 which will see the Towncentre, Streetscape, and Foreshore areas upgraded. This will see the town reinvigorated and really become the place that locals and tourists will be able to enjoy for years to come. The township plan identified the following areas as key projects; Foreshore Promenade, Foreshore Park, Town Square, Point Nepean Road, Rye Camping, Napier Street Plaza, Campbell Lane, Bimble / Collingwood / Sullivan Streetscape, and the Gateway into Rye. 

FORESHORE PROMENADE

The Foreshore Promenade will see a physical and visual extension of the pier. This will further improve one of the key attractions for the town, relating back to days when a railway ran from the pier past the bowls club to the big kiln. Alongside, there will be urban furniture and lighting to fit in with the landscape also helping frame views of the bay and creating areas of respite, play, and social interaction.

Image: Rye Township Plan

The key principles outlined in the ‘Township Report’ are listed below:

1. Create a sense of arrival through the use of public domain elements and integrated architectural form.
2. Design for a high-quality pedestrian environment.
3. Provide public domain elements that will not restrict visual and physical desire lines.

FORESHORE PARK

One of the current main attractions within the Rye foreshore is the Foreshore Park. Currently, the park is surrounded by mainly car parks, making its usability a little less attractive. With redefined greening of the park, improvement to the pier, and its surroundings, this space will once again provide a recreation hub for formal and informal events with plenty of recreational and leisure opportunities, including a proposed splash park! 

Image: Rye Township Plan

The key principles outlined in the ‘Township Report’ are listed below:

1. Provide a well defined open green space to allow for different passive and recreation activities.
2. Foster community engagement and understanding of the site’s history/ site interpretation.
3. Ensure safe and legible connections are made between the town centre and the foreshore - Provide safe pedestrian crossings at key entry points into the park.

TOWN SQUARE

This newly created space will become the heart of the township. Located adjacent to the current town hall this Town Square will comprise a park that will be a communal space with a range of outdoor activities which includes a skate park to support a growing youth population. The Town Square will front an activated laneway to the north connection it to the Napier Plaza. This space will also provide opportunities for commercial activities and outdoor dining. 

Image: Rye Township Plan

The key principles outlined in the ‘Township Report’ are listed below:

1. Activate frontages with fine grain commercial activities with opportunities for outdoor dining.
2. Provide flexible and functional spaces, that can be programmed to accommodate multiple events types and programs.
3. Provide a mix of passive and active uses.

POINT NEPEAN ROAD

Carrying all traffic through Rye and at the same time accommodating large numbers of pedestrians, Point Nepean Road certainly needs to accommodate everyone and their activities. Improvements like reduced traffic lanes, cycle links, additional signaled pedestrian crossings, and reduced traffic speed will all enhance the functionality of the town making it a more accessible and safe township. A seasonal parking scheme will also be implemented, to assist with increased pedestrian numbers during the warmer months.

Image: Rye Township Plan

The key principles outlined in the ‘Township Report’ are listed below:

1. Improve connectivity between town centre and foreshore.
2. Improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists.
3. Provide for a high activity streetscape environment.

RYE CAMPING

The foreshore campground has always been a popular holiday destination and has increased significantly since its beginning in the 1940s. With the campground sitting so close to Point Nepean Road it acts as a barrier to the bay. In order to address concerns and balance the needs of campers, holidaymakers, and the community it’s proposed to relocate and consolidate with the other campsites. 

Image: Rye Township Plan

Top key principles outlined in the ‘Township Report’ are listed below:

1. Providing functional open spaces programmed to cater to the needs of the campers.
2. Ensure safe and legible connections are made between the township and the campground and the beach - provide safe pedestrian crossings at key entry points into the campground.
3. Provide dense planting along Point Nepean Road to act as a buffer to the main road.

NAPIER STREET PLAZA

Napier Street Plaza will become the main pedestrian promenade within the township. It forms the extension of the historic pier/foreshore promenade to create a plaza space linking the township and existing community facilities back to the foreshore. The plaza will be framed by mixed-use development creating an active interface with the public domain. This plaza space could function both as an open-air market, event space, or outdoor dining zone/ eat street, complimenting the program in the adjacent town square.

Image: Rye Township Plan

Top key principles outlined in the ‘Township Report’ are listed below:

1. Provide a plaza by removing kerbs and road surface markings to enhance pedestrian environment.
2. Activate frontages with fine grain commercial activities within opportunities for outdoor dining.
3. Provide flexible and functional spaces, that can be programmed to accommodate multiple events types and programs.

CAMPBELL LANEWAY, BIMBLE / COLLINGWOOD / SULLIVAN STREETSCAPE

Campbell Laneway is the proposed share way that extends as a pedestrian/cycle link to Woolworths. Providing an alternate route and shelter from the winds and sun in the warmer months. To be used for outdoor dining, commercial activities, and local pop-up events. 

Bimble, Collingwood, and Sullivan Street are the alternate route for people during peak times and upgraded streetscapes to create safer options for not only motorists but pedestrians and cyclists. 

Image: Rye Township Plan

Top key principles outlined in the ‘Township Report’ are listed below:

CAMPBELL LANEWAY

1. Provide a shared zone by removing kerbs and road surface markings to enhance pedestrian environment.
2. Activate frontages with fine grain commercial activities within opportunities for outdoor dining.

BIMBLE / COLLINGWOOD / SULLIVAN STREETSCAPE

1. Provide traffic calming measures to support a high balance of function for vehicular traffic whilst providing adequate and safe movement functions for pedestrians and cyclists.
2. Create widened footpaths and safe and legible pedestrian crossing points to promote walkability.

GATEWAY INTO RYE

A gateway into Rye can be a sculpture or form that signifies arrival or frames an important aspect. This has the potential to add to the identity and character of Rye in a broader context and create a memorable feature along the journey through the peninsula.

Image: Rye Township Plan

Top key principles outlined in the ‘Township Report’ are listed below:

1. Provide a gateway entry statement that contributes to the identity and character for Rye
2. Establish a strong connection to the Bay.

There are very exciting times ahead for the township of Rye over the next decade. 

With improvements to major attractions like the pier and foreshore park, and also to back streets to provide an alternative area to explore, relax, eat, and socialise. Needless to say, these will be welcomed updates to the town, which we are very excited to hear about at Crowders Real Estate. Providing the community and holidaymakers a township that has something to offer everyone, Rye will become the go to destination. 

Looking to sell your home, purchase your next dream home or invest in the ideal location on the peninsula? Head to crowdersre.com.au for all of our current listings or to get in touch with us on 03 5983 3038 to get an idea of your property is worth.

Click the link If you would like to know more about the Rye Township Plan 

References: https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Building-Planning/Strategic-Planning/Strategic-Planning-Projects/Rye-Township-Plan