By Callum Ludwig
The first stage of a substantial effort to restore the Sanitarium factory site in Warburton has begun, with community input key to the plans.
The walkway and land behind the factory are the first points of consideration, with a landscape architect and arboriculturalist called upon to make a first assessment.
Landscape architect Matthew McFall was involved in the first effort to revive the factory site in 2006 and said one of the key problems the first time was the selective thinning of the vegetation.
“When it first started, the plan was to have two flanking buildings on each side of the main building and to renovate the factory into a food and wine centre with a car park, so I had to design everything on the outside of the buildings and to position the buildings to make sure it all works in the landscape,” he said.
“People can get a little bit negative about removing trees so we have to do it right to get it all rolling, and I think what we have done is right and is going to be great, and if we get the first part right, there’ll be more trust in the project.”
The Warburton Advancement League and Upper Yarra River Reserve Committee are helping provide community oversight to the works, and also see the initial stage as an important opportunity to make the river access tracks more accessible.
Vice President of the Warburton Advancement League David Pratt said significant community representation will be a critical element in the development of not only the implementation plan but the ongoing management plan for the site.
“We recognise that it’s hard for the volunteer Upper Yarra River Reserve Committee to do all the physical work in maintaining the weeds and the health of the whole riverway, so this partnership together with the developer not only ensures that the crown land is accessible at all times to the community but enhances the ability for people to experience it,” he said.
“This track will be important for all-ability access to the site and to the riverside, we have so few access points in Warburton, albeit we have kilometres of river access tracks, so we want to be able to tie that in and make sure these tracks are safe, are appropriate from a gradient perspective and that people can enjoy this area.”
The Crockett group acquired the building in 1997 following the factory’s closure, having made Weet Bix at the factory since 1925. In August 2022 after discussions with owner Garry Crockett, Yarra Ranges Council, the Warburton Advancement League and local contractors conducted makesafe works at the site, securing the building, removing debris, knocking out all the glass, fixing and repairing damage from several water leaks, restoring power, installing floodlights and gardening.
Arboriculturalist Rob Galbraith has been brought in for his expertise and said for the concept to work there has to be some thinning of the trees and it’s a matter of picking out those which are the least significant.
“When you are looking for the most significant trees, they’re going to be likely based on the size, importance, landscape and whether they have significant habitat potential for wildlife,” he said.
“They’ve got to be in reasonably good condition and reasonably safe and we also want a situation where you’re keeping a good representation of the species diversity and that maintains the natural bushy feel of the area.”
It is expected most of the trees and vegetation that would be removed are the smaller trees in the lower canopy, which will thin out the vegetation and be positive from a fire risk management perspective.
Mr Pratt said managing people’s safety is all a part of the balance they hope to achieve.
“Many residents use this walking track, and given that this is also the place of last resort (the Warburton Recreation Reserve), there’d be a number of people that might use this track to access the place of last resort, because the highway may be very busy,” he said.
“We will also incorporate the landscaping of the La La turntable as well, revitalising that part of our rail heritage, and celebrating it as part of the landscape plan. “
The initial $50 million proposal for the ‘Edgewater Spa and Resort’ at the Sanitarium factory site was halted due to regulations, lapsed permits and the Global Financial Crisis.
Mr McFall said he believed the proposal in 2006 was still based on sound principles.
“This is just about seeing if anything’s changed in terms of the landscape, which it looks like it hasn’t, other than that there might be a bit of regeneration of vegetation,” he said.
“What we proposed back then is all pretty solid, it just needs a bit of tinkering at the edges, but not anything significant.”
