PROJECTS

Moulamein Masterplan and Community Action Plan

Tomkinson partnered with Murray River Council and the Moulamein community to develop a 20-year Masterplan and Community Action Plan that provides a clear roadmap for the township's future growth, liveability and resilience.
The project combined strategic planning, community engagement and urban design to create an investment-ready framework that reflects local aspirations while establishing practical pathways for delivery.

Discipline	Town Planning
Timeframe	2025 - 2026
Client	Murray River Council
Location	Moulamein, NSW
Consultants	Tomkinson, Kinscope, Marc Bartsch
Council	Murray River Council

Located in one of New South Wales’ oldest river settlements, Moulamein required a long-term plan that would strengthen community infrastructure, improve connectivity, support economic development and enhance resilience to future challenges. Equally important was ensuring the community played a genuine role in shaping the town’s future.

Putting the Community at the Centre

A defining feature of the project was its commitment to meaningful community engagement. Working in accordance with IAP2 engagement principles, Tomkinson delivered a comprehensive engagement program that placed local knowledge and lived experience at the centre of decision-making. The process included community workshops, town walks, online engagement activities, stakeholder discussions and dedicated sessions with students from Moulamein Public School. A Community Steering Committee was also established to provide ongoing local input throughout the project.

Rather than treating consultation as a one-off exercise, the engagement program was designed around continuous feedback and collaboration. Community feedback directly informed the development of the Masterplan, while later engagement phases allowed residents to review, refine and prioritise proposed projects. This approach helped build strong community ownership and confidence in the final outcomes

Delivering a Practical Vision

The Masterplan identifies a range of initiatives aimed at improving the long-term liveability and sustainability of Moulamein. Key focus areas include revitalisation of Morago Street, improved pedestrian and cycling connections, upgrades to community spaces, enhanced flood resilience and projects that support future economic growth and tourism opportunities.

To help communicate the vision, Tomkinson collaborated with visualisation specialist Marc Bartsch to develop concept sketches and illustrations that assisted the community in understanding proposed improvements and future possibilities.

Importantly, the project moved beyond high-level strategic planning. Every recommended initiative was prioritised, staged and costed, providing Murray River Council with a clear implementation pathway and a strong foundation for future funding applications.

Outcomes

The value of this approach has already been demonstrated through successful funding outcomes. Projects identified through the Masterplan helped Murray River Council secure $1.49 million in NSW Government funding to deliver key community priorities, including reconstruction of the historic Moulamein Wharf, new pedestrian connections and upgrades to critical flood protection infrastructure.

The Moulamein Masterplan and Community Action Plan provides Council and the community with a shared 20-year vision, a fully costed implementation framework and a practical roadmap for future investment. Most importantly, it demonstrates how genuine community engagement can shape better planning outcomes and deliver lasting benefits for regional communities.