Baseline Facilities Provision Guidelines

The baseline facility provision should be seen as a guide only. In line with the Public Open Space Plan principles of a Place-based approach and Caring for Country, Council takes a site-specific approach to the planning and design of the open space network. This extends beyond the hierarchy show below and takes into account the category, primary and secondary function of the open space being designed.

Facilities and features for Regional, Municipal, Neighbourhood, Local and Pocket open spaces have been identified as follows:

  • Must - definitely have in the open space
  • Should - Ideal to have in the open space if possible (limitations could be physical, contextual/use, community constraints)
  • May - Could have in the open space if identified as a network gap, not entirely necessary but considered if there are demonstrated benefits and if requested by community.
  • Restricted - Not to be in the open space, but can be considered in special circumstances (how it might work with the whole open space network, i.e. shelter and drinking fountain in a pocket park if it is next to a recreational shared path)
  • N/A - Not to be provided in the open space

Facility and feature

Regional

Municipal

Neighbourhood

Local

Pocket

Barbecues

Should

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

Bins

Must

Should

May

Restricted

N/A

Car parking (on-site)

Should

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

Changing places facility (no shower)

May

May

N/A

N/A

N/A

Changing places facility (with shower)

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

N/A

Drinking fountain with dog bowl

Must

Must

Must

Should

N/A

EV charging

Should

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

Festival / event infrastructure

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

N/A

Garden bed - natives

Must

Must

Must

Must

Must

Garden bed - ornamental

Should

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

Informal active recreation infrastructure*

Must

Should

Should

May

Restricted

Integrated Water Management

Should

Should

May

Restricted

N/A

Lighting

May

May

May

Restricted

Restricted

Play space

Must

Should

May

May

N/A

Power - single phase

Must

Should

May

Restricted

Restricted

Power - three phase

Must

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

Public art

May

May

Restricted

Restricted

N/A

Public toilets

May

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

Seating

Must

Must

Must

Must

Must

Shelters

Must

Must

Should

May

N/A

Signage - interpretation/educational

Must

Should

May

N/A

N/A

Signage - site identification

Must

Must

Must

Must

Must

Signage - wayfinding

Must

Should

May

Restricted

N/A

Sporting infrastructure*

May

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

Trees

Must

Must

Must

Must

Must

Village green grassed area

May

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

Water connection

Must

Must

Must

Should

Restricted

Water features

May

Restricted

N/A

N/A

N/A

Wifi/internet

May

Restricted

Restricted

N/A

N/A

*Facilities and infrastructure provided under the Long-term Community Infrastructure Plan 2024 -2033 and Active Whittlesea Strategy 2019-2028. Shade will be provided by trees throughout the open space network. In addition to trees, shade can also be provided by shelters, dependent upon the context.