Mogo Village Place Activation Plan

On the back of the ‘Rebuilding Mogo’ Study and continuing our established relationship with Eurobodalla Shire Council and the local Mogo community, Ethos Urban was engaged to prepare a Place Activation Plan for Mogo with the primary aim to develop strategies, actions and projects as a road map to build a stronger, more sustainable and vibrant village. 

Mogo is a hidden gem in the New South Wales far south coast. The Village is an important retail centre that offers an eclectic mix of artisan outlets and an architectural style dating back to the gold rush and early pioneering eras. Its distinct character and identity make it a place endeared by the locals and popular among visitors.

Mogo was devastated by bushfires over the summer of 2019-20 resulting in significant impacts to property with the loss of homes and businesses in the town and surrounding area. Following from the bushfire recovery efforts, the Mogo Village Place Activation Plan is an opportunity to rebuild Mogo and build back better for a more sustainable and better planned future that adapts to the needs of Mogo and supports local livelihoods. 

Looking holistically at the village and expanding our focus beyond the cluster of destroyed properties, the plan seeks to align multiple projects underway and build upon the opportunities of transformative projects such as Mogo Trails to establish clear actions and projects that will activate the local economy, strengthen community resilience and reinforce Mogo as a key destination. 

Ensuring the community is engaged early and their priorities and vision for Mogo are clearly understood has been a key driver for the project. Ethos Urban combined its engagement and urban design services to provide extensive community engagement alongside the preparation of the Place Activation Plan including two public information drop in sessions in John Street Reserve as well as targeted sessions online and in Mogo with a range of stakeholder groups. 

Ethos Urban worked with Eurobodalla Shire Council to facilitate a two-day workshop called ‘Synthesis’ which aimed to generate ideas, coordinate and prioritise projects and to deliver shared ownership of the Place Activation Plan across various teams within Council. This was a valuable workshop that has informed the development of targeted actions, key moves and what became a working Structure Plan for the village.

Implementation of this plan will require a coordinated effort between Council, stakeholders, agencies and the community that can adapt to how Mogo grows over time. This document is intended to be a dynamic document that can be adjusted over time in tandem with the community. Informing the spatial framework for Mogo, three keys moves were established to manage urban development and growth opportunities. This included Reimagining John Street Reserve & relocating toilets to this central location, encouraging Annett Street to be a hub for the community with a pedestrian and cyclist focus, and integrating a network of spaces for residents, visitors, businesses and trail users. 

Key features of the Place Activation Plan include: 

• Involving the community by creating a collaborative, accessible and inclusive environment and to help us define the brief.
• Developing a strong understanding of ‘place’ founded in social, economic and environmental analysis.
• Define a vision and set of principles for Mogo that everyone can aspire to.
• Finding feasible solutions to the spatial challenges of Mogo.
• Prioritising what’s important to the community, stakeholders and Council and sharing accountability for actions.
• Serving as a living document to measure the growth and prosperity of Mogo.