Questions you wanted to ask.

Land

Our criteria for a suitable property on which to develop Mark's Country Place (MCP) was that it be 10 - 12 acres (4.2 - 4.8 hectares) of flat land, in the central Victoria area with easy transportation accessibility.  We searched for 2 1/2 years before we found the current property.  It is approximately 10 acres of almost flat land with a rise of 4 metres from the south-west corner by the entrance on Deep Lead Lane to the North-east corner by the entrance on Sebastopol Road, creating a barely noticeable slope.  The land is located 4kms from Kyneton town centre in the central Victorian region with easy access by road from the Calder Freeway.

Public transport

We are aware that the train station is approximately 5 kms from MCP, but we plan to explore several options available to provide a shuttle from the station to MCP as we move closer to opening for visitors.  Most train stations are located in or near a town centre where any vacant land would be only available for housing/commercial development.  There is a local bus service in Kyneton but it does not come out as far as MCP.  Many regional Victorian towns are not on a direct train line from Melbourne, necessitating a transfer from the train to one or more buses to reach destinations in other towns.  Kyneton is 1 hour and 10 minutes on the direct line from Southern Cross station in Melbourne to Bendigo.

Respite from inclement weather

We have designed an amenities building with heating and cooling to provide shelter in all types weather.   Within the building is a large open plan space that can be divided in half with folding partition doors.  This space might be used for various activities such as planting seeds, flower arranging and art projects to name a few.   The building itself is a large Colorbond shed such as is seen on farms and rural properties in the surrounding area.

Toilets

Within the amenities building there will be 2 standard size disabled toilets, one with a shower and adult change table, 3 ambulant toilets (left and right) with a further ambulant staff/volunteer toilet.  There will be another ambulant toilet by the maintenance shed in the north-east corner of the property.

Windows in the amenities building

The building is designed to have large windows low enough to accommodate the view for children and wheelchair patrons along the whole north side which overlooks the gardens.

Pathways

Currently it is planned that the surface of the car park will be composed of granitic gravel, with the pathway from there to the amenities building and surrounding pathways to be concrete.  Further pathways will be constructed as we move into Stages 2 and 3 of landscape development.  These may be granitic gravel, or we may decide to concrete all the pathways.  This depends on how the granitic gravel stands up to fair wear and tear, especially from wheelchairs and walkers.  There is a cost consideration which may mean concrete pathways would have to be part of a later plan.  We have spent some time researching surfaces in public spaces and talking with designers and engineers regarding the relative merits of both surfaces. 

Refreshments

There is a kitchen within the amenities building.   The use of this has not yet been decided, but it is likely that we will be using the kitchen for refreshments/tea/coffee for visitors.  Details of how this will be run and by whom have not yet been decided.  Whether it is volunteer run or developed into a separate social enterprise is something we see as future planning.

Social enterprise

We see an opportunity for vegetables and fruit produced in the MCP vegetable garden and orchard to be sold onsite to visitors.  This maybe one of the projects run in conjunction with Windarring, a day program facility in Kyneton for disabled clients.  Selling plant seedlings is another possibility.  We have been approached by various groups who are interested in collaborating on music and art projects sometime in the future.

Volunteers and community involvement

Many people within the local area, and some not so local, have already told us that they are keen to come and volunteer time at MCP.  We plan to create volunteer opportunities for all ability volunteers to work together on projects within MCP.   There are two aged care facilities in Kyneton and nearer to our opening we will be approaching them to discuss their use of the facility.  The special needs coordinator at Kyneton Primary School has expressed interest in bringing students to MCP.  Social interaction between all comers to MCP will be encouraged at every level.   We do advertise MCP as an all access garden, meaning that it is open and welcoming to all comers regardless of ability.