By Jessica Anstice
Members of the community are being encouraged to share their opinions on the draft landscape plan for Drouin’s Bellbird Park.
The recreation precinct is about 23 hectares in area and is a significant sporting, recreation and environmental reserve.
It also combines indigenous vegetation and open space which supports a range of fauna.
The Baw Baw Shire Council’s draft landscape plan aims to provide direction for the use and development of the reserve for the community into the future.
The plan seeks to guide a sustainable, quality, well utilised and valued future for the popular space.
“Through the landscape plan, we want to guide improvements to infrastructure, facilities, biodiversity and environment at Bellbird Park,” Baw Baw mayor Danny Goss said.
“We encourage locals and users of the reserve to have a read through the plan and let us know your feedback.”
Following adoption of the Drouin Recreation Plan Review in June 2019, 32 recommendations were identified for Bellbird Park including the preparation of a landscape plan to detail suitable locations and designs for walking tracks, revegetation works and other open space.
The draft landscape plan addresses two main themes including infrastructure: walking tracks, signage, bird viewing platforms and parking, as well as environment and drainage: weed management, wetland areas, revegetation and trees.
Concurrently, the council is working on designs for a new multi-use sporting pavilion for the eastern section of Bellbird Park.
Feedback is also being sought on two proposed options for the location of this pavilion.
A Project Reference Group (PRG) has been established with representatives of the key user groups to help scope the project.
To best balance the recreational, social and environmental values of the reserve, the draft landscape plan has been prepared in collaboration with professional consultants.
Community members interested in reviewing and providing feedback on the draft landscape plan are encouraged to do so.
A 17-question survey is now available online, with hard copies also available on request.
To access the draft landscape plan and survey, go to: www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay
This consultation opportunity is open until Wednesday 17 June 2020.
Following the consultation period, comments will be consolidated and used to make further recommendations to the council for the adoption of the landscape plan at a future council meeting.
