The Whittlesea Park Master Plan, consisting of 13 key recommendations, was unanimously approved at Council Meeting on June 27, 2023.
The plan was developed by the City of Whittlesea in collaboration with the Whittlesea Showgrounds and Recreation Reserves Committee of Management.
Located on a 25-hectare reserve in the Whittlesea township, the park is comprised of a number of reserves, facilities and amenities, including:
- AF Walker Reserve
- Whittlesea Off-Leash Dog Park
- Whittlesea Tennis Club and Courts
- C McDonald Reserve Playground
- Laurel Street Kindergarten
- Whittlesea Skate Park
The approved master plan includes:
- Outlines to upgrade the reserve’s entrances and improvements to the playground to meet the needs of children of all ages.
- New picnic areas with barbecue facilities and furniture and create a three-metre-wide circuit path with pedestrian bridge crossings and fitness stations.
- Access will also be improved through installation of new pedestrian bridge crossings over Scrubby Creek, Plenty River and Bruce Creek, while work will be done to improve access to the Whittlesea Showgrounds from Beech Street.
- A tree strategy will be developed that provides for an audit of all existing trees, while parking arrangements along Laurel, Forest, Walnut and Beech streets will be formalised.
- Dog owners will benefit from an upgrade to the existing off-leash dog park, the planting of additional trees and a quiet dog zone.
- Skate park and playground users will enjoy the convenience of public toilets being built at the Walnut Street entrance, while Council will investigate the option of future toilet facilities at Laurel Street.
- The master plan provides for the retention of the Fire Rescue Victoria training area and an upgrade to include multi-use facilities including learn-to-ride and exercise tracks and netball courts.
- Council and the Committee of Management will collaborate with state government partners to improve the quality of vegetation along the waterways and develop an interpretative signage plan to promote the cultural history of the area.
To help deliver the recommendations, Council will take over management responsibilities for the land west of Bruces Creek-Plenty River, where most of the infrastructure will be located.
Council has already been successful in obtaining $500,000 from the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund to construct a new bridge over the Plenty River at the end of Laurel Street.
The bridge will provide a safer connection for residents in Eastern Hill with the educational, commercial and community facilities in the Whittlesea township.
