The Yarra Bend Park Strategy Plan is approved for implementation. Its purpose is to direct the management and development of the Park until the Plan is reviewed. A Draft Plan for the area was published in July 1998. The submissions received have been considered in developing this approved Plan.
Copies of the Plan can be obtained from: Parks Victoria 378 Cotham Road Kew VIC 3101
For further information on this plan please contact:
Parks Victoria Information Centre Phone 13 1963
ii YARRA BEND PARK STRATEGY PLAN
April 1999 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Crown (State of Victoria) 1998 A Victorian Government Publication. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1986.
Published in April 1999 by Parks Victoria 378 Cotham Road, Kew, Victoria 3101.
Cover: Studley Park Boathouse
Printed on recycled paper to help save our natural environment
ii Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
FOREWORD
Yarra Bend Park is a rich bushland oasis This plan provides the strategic direction with contrasting riverine and landscaped for management of the park over the settings, located within the densely next 5 years. It identifies the diverse populated inner suburbs of Melbourne. values and provides a management The winding river valley is the major framework focused on sustaining the focus of the park, supporting valuable environment within a climate of flora and fauna links between the Yarra increasing visitation and recreational River and Merri Creek Valley. demands. Melburnians and tourists alike can explore a range of experiences within The plan has been developed in the park from seclusion amidst a tranquil consultation with the community and river environment to busy picnic settings their contribution is gratefully and active sports. The Studley Park acknowledged. The continued Boathouse and the 18 hole public golf participation and support of the wider course feature prominently as community is essential to achieve the recreational attractions for many visitors. long term aim of ensuring this natural The park’s Koori and post settlement bushland setting within inner Melbourne history overlays its environmental and is protected and enhanced, and recreational values enhancing the maintains its current diverse appeal. importance of this park to both the local and regional population.
Mark Stone The Hon Haddon Storey Chief Executive Chairperson Parks Victoria Yarra Bend Trust
iii Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Yarra Bend Park will be known throughout Melbourne as the bushland park in the city. It will sustain a diverse H ISTORY environment and play an important In 1933, the Kew & Heidelberg Lands habitat role in the Yarra corridor. Its Act established the Yarra Bend Park variety of landscape and natural Trust to manage and administer the elements, with the river as its central Park. In March 1997, the Yarra Bend focus, accommodates a range of leisure Park Trust entered into a Management pursuits from bushland seclusion and Services Agreement with Parks Victoria isolation, to recreation and organised to manage the day to day operation of sports. Interpreting the Park’s rich Yarra Bend Park on behalf of the Trust cultural history and environmental and to update the 1990 Management importance will add to the many reasons Plan through the preparation of this five people will return to enjoy this regional year Strategy Plan. parkland.
T HE P ARK C ONTEXT P ARK V ALUES The Park is located some 6km to the Values for each element of the park north-east of central Melbourne, in the have been established as a basis for the heart of densely populated inner strategic directions. suburbs. Yarra Bend Park serves both local and regional open space markets. E NVIRONMENTAL V ALUES Within the region, the Park provides a • Yarra Bend Park is a vital link in the unique setting and experience. The fauna corridors of the Yarra and informal Australian bushland setting, the Merri Creek Valleys. picnic areas and the River allow Yarra • Approximately 100 hectares of the Bend Park to offer a great range of Park is covered by indigenous recreation experiences within the region. vegetation of varied quality and contains 117 significant flora species. • It provides habitat for 193 fauna T HE S TRATEGY P LAN species, including some registered This strategy plan builds on the existing under international agreements and 1990 Yarra Bend Park Management some listed under the Flora and Plan, which set a clear direction for Fauna Guarantee Act. much of the Park at the time. V ISITOR V ALUES The main objectives of this Strategy • The Park offers a diverse and Plan are: extensive bushland within only 6 • to identify key future strategic kilometres of the city centre. directions for the management of • It offers a wide range of facilities Yarra Bend Park; catering for activities from walking, • to outline key actions which need to picnicking, cycling and pleasure be implemented over the next five boating to golfing, arts activities, years; fishing and organised sports. • to identify the main strategies for the implementation of the Strategy Plan. L ANDSCAPE V ALUES • The deep and winding river valley, 12 The Strategy Plan is to be read in km long within the Park, provides conjunction with the Environmental opportunities for seclusion and a Management and the Heritage sense of isolation from the urban Conservation Plans for the Park. These surrounds. provide significant additional detail in relation to environmental and cultural C ULTURAL H ERITAGE V ALUES heritage matters. • The Park’s rich cultural history, both Koori and post-settlement, is a T HE V ISION significant element of the Park. • The vision developed for the park It is the largest remaining area of through this plan states: natural bushland within inner Melbourne. iv Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
P ARK W IDE • the Ovals and Loop Road area, S TRATEGIES (including Deep Rock and the Golf Course Reception Centre); Strategies have been developed for the • Park in general and for each zone within Andrews Reserve area; and • the park. The strategies have been The Studley Park Reception and Par based around the established character 3 Golf Course areas. of each zone of the park. An overview A reduction in the proportion of Park of the most significant strategies follows. users is expected at Studley Park. The park will focus on the following R ISK M ANAGEMENT visitor groups to broaden its attraction: The actions and strategies contained in • the 1997 Risk Evaluation and family groups with children; • Assessment report will be undertaken to tourists; • ensure a safe environment for Park large social groups; visitors and staff. • river users; and • diverse cultural groups. T HE E NVIRONMENT The greatest concentration of resources Visitor Facilities will go into protecting and enhancing the • Recent upgrades have seen an areas of important environmental value. improvement in the Park’s facilities The day to day implementation of these but further work is required to strategies will be guided by the detailed upgrade seating, viewing points and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) drinking taps. for the Park. This EMP addresses: • The creation of a significant new · The River and riparian areas; picnic and playground area at Deep · Existing vegetation management; Rock will relieve pressure on existing · Weed control; high use areas in the Park and · Revegetation; diversify the range of visitor facilities. · Pest animals; · Habitat management and Sports Facilities enhancement • Sports facilities will remain an element of the Park where demand Yarra Bend Park contains areas of both remains strong and facilities can be high and low environmental values. maintained to an acceptable Consequently, environmental standard. management strategies reflect the • Maintaining the 18 hole golf course to environmental values of individual areas a high standard and maximising its and ensure the maintenance of flora and use will see its attraction broaden. fauna diversity within the Park. • The rationalisation of sports grounds Strategies will concentrate on: from 13 to 7 will better reflect current • improvement of the riparian zone; demand. • species specific habitat improvements; P ROGRAMS AND M ARKETING • revegetation and weed control within • Programs will be developed within areas of high environmental value; the Park to increase the range of • continuing pest animal control. recreation opportunities available and the range of users. V ISITOR M ANAGEMENT • The Park’s profile and use, A 20% increase in visitor numbers to the particularly to new and under- Park is expected by the year 2007. The represented users groups, will be Park can absorb this increase, provided improved through the development of the additional visitors are directed into specific marketing and signage areas where the increased use can be strategies. accommodated without negative impact • The underdeveloped markets of on the environment. overseas and national tourists is a With the implementation of the targeted strategy. strategies contained in this Plan, increases in visitation are expected in:
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A CCESS AND C IRCULATION Access and circulation will be improved through: • upgrading of entry points to the Park; • development of looped trails from major visitor use areas; • establishing a hierarchy of paths and trails; and • controlling access points and number of informal trails.
C ULTURAL H ERITAGE Strategies for managing the Park’s important cultural history will be based on an acknowledgment and respect of significant former occupations and uses of the Park areas, and the adoption of conservation policies as recommended in the Yarra Bend Park Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
I MPLEMENTATION Support for Friends groups in their efforts to improve the Park’s environment will be continued. Priorities for implementation will address: • ensuring public safety and security; • protecting and enhancing existing environmental values and diversity; • improving the quality and diversity of visitor experience.
vi Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IV
1 BACKGROUND 1
1.1 Regional and Visitor Context 1
1.2 Management, Trust and Parks Victoria 2
1.3 Planning Process 2
2 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 3
2.1 Vision 3
2.2 Park Values 3
2.3 Guiding Principles 4
3 PARK WIDE STRATEGIES 6
3.1 Risk Management 6
3.2 The Environment 6
3.3 Visitor Management 9
3.4 Marketing & Information 12
3.5 Access and Circulation 14
3.6 Cultural Heritage 14
3.7 Park Character & Settings 15
4 ZONE STRATEGIES 19
Zone 1 Yarra River Management Zone 19
Zone 2 Westfield / Fairlea Management Area 19
Zone 3 River Bend Management Area 21
Zone 4 Golf Course Management Area 23
Zone 5 Trig Point Management Area 24
Zone 6 Willsmere Management Area 25
Zone 7 Studley Park Management Area 26
vii Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
5 IMPLEMENTATION 30
5.1 Management Resources 30
5.2 Consultation and Coordination 30
5.3 Priorities 30
5.4 Implementation Phases 30
5.5 Monitoring and Review 31
BIBLIOGRAPHY 32
Maps
Map 1 Key Initiatives End of Plan
Map 2 Indigenous Vegetation Condition & Geological Features End of Plan
Map 3 Park Management Zones End of Plan
viii Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
1 BACKGROUND areas and the River allow Yarra Bend Park to offer a greater range of Parks Victoria, in conjunction with the recreation experiences within the region. Yarra Bend Park Trust, commissioned Royal Park to the west, Darebin the preparation of a Strategy Plan to Parklands to the north-east, Bundoora provide a five year strategic framework Park to the north and further east, Yarra for the future directions of Yarra Bend Valley Parklands, are significant regional Park. This strategy plan builds on the parks having overlapping user existing 1990 Yarra Bend Park catchments with Yarra Bend Park. Management Plan, which set a clear direction for much of the Park at the Fairfield Park and Quarries Park, located time. In the intervening seven years adjacent to Yarra Bend Park provide however, significant changes have local park environments and children’s occurred and this Strategy Plan is aimed playgrounds. Fairfield Boathouse is a at reviewing the previous work to chart major metropolitan attraction and the the direction of the Park over the next amphitheatre at Fairfield Park a five years. significant regional facility.
The main objectives of this Strategy 1.1.2 THE P ARK C ATCHMENT Plan are: • to identify key future strategic Yarra Bend draws 46% of its visitors directions for the management of from the local area (defined as within Yarra Bend Park; 5km of the centre of the Park.) Eleven • to outline key actions over the next percent of Melbourne’s population five years; (344,000 people) live within this catchment. • to identify the main strategies for the
Park. Some key demographic features of the
park catchment are: The Strategy Plan draws together and is • to be read in conjunction with the large proportions of households with Environmental Management and the no children (either single or couple Heritage Conservation Plans for the only households); • Park. These provide significant a significant proportion of people additional detail in relation to from non-English speaking environmental and cultural heritage backgrounds (particularly in the City matters. of Yarra); • the local park catchment has a much smaller proportion of young people 1.1 REGIONAL AND than Melbourne does generally and a V ISITOR C ONTEXT higher proportion of the 20-29 age group. This is reflected in the large proportion of dwellings which are 1.1.1 THE PARK WITHIN THE apartments, flats and units with REGION nearly one third of the local catchment living in this type of home; The Park is located 6km to the north- • one third of all Melbourne’s overseas east of central Melbourne, in the heart of tourists stay within the local densely populated inner suburbs. Public catchment of the park but just 1% of transport to the Park is limited and park visitors are overseas tourists. concentrated on the main roads.
Yarra Bend Park serves both local and 1.1.3 CURRENT P ARK regional open space markets. Within V ISITORS the region, the park provides a unique park setting and experience. Though With a significant proportion of visitors the central Melbourne region appears coming from the immediate surrounding well served with open space, most of the areas, the Park clearly has an important parkland offers very formal European role to play in providing local open space and Victorian era landscapes, which opportunities. accommodate a limited range of recreation opportunities. The informal Australian bushland setting, the picnic 1 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Yarra Bend’s visitor profile differs from In 1933, the Kew & Heidelberg Lands aggregated visitor data for metropolitan Act established the Yarra Bend Park parks managed by Parks Victoria in Trust to manage and administer the several ways. Park. The Trust comprises one councillor from each of the three The park attracts a higher proportion of adjoining municipal councils, Yarra, people in the 20-29 and over 60 age Boroondara and Darebin, together with 4 groups and a lower proportion of people persons appointed by the Victorian aged between 30-39 years. Families Government. with children are typically a significant visitor group to metropolitan parks, but In March 1997, the Yarra Bend Park both the local catchment and the park Trust entered into a Management visitation reflects a much lower Services Agreement with Parks Victoria. proportion of families with children. Under this Agreement, Parks Victoria was given the responsibility of managing Other characteristics of the visitor profile the day to day operation of Yarra Bend indicate Yarra Bend visitors are Park on behalf of the Trust. The generally highly educated with a Agreement also required Parks Victoria, significant proportion in professional or in consultation with the Trust, to update management positions. Indicative of the the 1990 Management Plan through the features of the park, visitors have a preparation of this five year Strategy strong sports and fitness focus. Plan.
The majority of people visit the park in small groups using walking tracks, interacting with the river, and visiting the 1.3 PLANNING Studley Park and Loop Road area. P ROCESS
The planning process for the Strategy 1.1.4 RECREATION Plan involved three key stages, these A CTIVITIES being; • research and analysis, The Park currently offers a range of • defining the strategic framework, water and land based recreation and and, sporting opportunities from canoeing, • development of the specific rowing and fishing to cycling, jogging, strategies and final plan. team sports such as cricket, competitive Consultation with management and fly fishing and golf, through to the less community stakeholders and the wider active pastimes of picnicking and playing community was integral to each stage in with children. The most popular the process. activities undertaken at Yarra Bend Park however, are walking and walking the dog.
The Park’s terrain and layout have seen it become popular for off-road cycling and on-road triathlon cycling training. Some popular activities have not appeared in the Park and could be catered for in the future. The potential for the Park to accommodate more sporting competitions in cycling, triathlon and biathlon events and less strenuous fun runs could be further developed.
1.2 MANAGEMENT, T RUST AND P ARKS V ICTORIA
2 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
2STRATEGIC vegetation type, namely Valley Forest, is regionally significant. DIRECTIONS Additionally, it is situated on the interface of two geological types and 2.1 VISION provides a number of clearly observable geological formations. Yarra Bend Park will be known throughout Melbourne as the Visitor Values bushland park in the city. It will The Park’s key value is its unique sustain a diverse environment and offering of diverse and extensive play an important habitat role in the bushland within only 6 kilometres of the Yarra corridor. Its variety of city centre. This juxtaposition of landscape and natural elements, extensive areas of indigenous with the river as its central focus, vegetation in the midst of highly urbanised surrounds, the “bushland in accommodates a range of leisure the City”, is one of the most valued pursuits from bushland seclusion characteristics of the Park. The and isolation, to recreation and bushland character provides a sense of organised sports. Interpreting the tranquillity and the opportunity for Park’s rich cultural history and seclusion and isolation in some areas of environmental importance will add to the Park. the many reasons people will return to enjoy this regional parkland. Within this overall character, a wide range of experiences are available, including walking, cycling, pleasure 2.2 PARK V ALUES boating, canoeing, picnicking, barbecuing, socialising, relaxing, formal The major values of the Park are or organised sports, nature studying, summarised below: environmental activities, fly casting, playing, dog-walking, golfing, arts Environmental Values activities, orienteering, fishing, Yarra Bend Park has important sightseeing and many more. environmental values due to its primary role in the fauna corridors of the Yarra Supporting this diversity of experience is and Merri Creek Valleys, providing an a wide range of facilities including an important link in the network of local, extensive trail network, picnic and regional and national habitat corridors. barbecue facilities, 18 hole and 9 hole As well as a plethora of invertebrate par 3 golf courses, boathouse, kiosks species, the Park provides habitat for a and restaurant, extensive active sports total of 193 observed species, including: fields, fly-casting pool and a myriad of • 7 bird species listed under JAMBA other facilities. and CAMBA (Japanese/Chinese Migratory Bird Agreement, respectively); • 5 bird and 1 fish species listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act; • two fish species which are vulnerable in Victoria and four that are rare in Victoria; and • 14 fauna species listed as rare or threatened by Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
In relation to flora, approximately 100 hectares of the Park is covered by indigenous vegetation of varied quality. One hundred and seventeen significant flora species are present, 68 being of local importance and 49 of regional importance. The most extensive
3 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Landscape Values Natural Environment The landscape qualities of Yarra Bend • The natural environment of the park Park set it clearly apart from other parks will be protected and maintained in Melbourne. The meeting of the commensurate with the western basalt plains with the silurian environmental values of individual mudstones of the eastern suburbs areas. results in a landscape of dramatic • The natural environment will be contrasts. protected to maintain its important role in the Yarra Valley and Merri The River is the major focus of Yarra Creek habitat corridors. Bend, connecting the Park to the rest of • The diverse range of ecotypes and Melbourne. The deep and winding river natural features throughout the Park valley, 12 km long within the Park, will be protected. provides opportunities for seclusion and a sense of isolation from the urban Park Character surrounds. • The distinctive character of the Park will be reinforced by: High above the river, dominating cliffs - maintaining and enhancing the provide commanding views of the city “bushland in the City” character; and skyline. Interspersed with this complex - retaining an appropriate balance landscape is a wide variety of open between informal recreation and spaces, from small clearings in active sporting facilities that support bushland, through open grassland areas a diversity of Park uses. to large sports fields and golf courses. • The river’s central role in the Park will be reinforced by improving access to Extensive areas of indigenous and use of the river. vegetation contrast sharply with the • The unique built form and landscape urban surrounds. Additionally, small character of the Park will be pockets of historic exotic plantings reinforced through specific guidelines create attractive highlights in the for the design of new elements within landscape. the Park. Park Visitors Cultural Heritage • The Park will provide a range of Values experiences that is balanced The Park’s rich cultural history, both between offering opportunities for Koori and post-settlement, is a seclusion and isolation with significant element of the Park. It is the recreation and organised sports. largest remaining area of natural • The facilities required to support a bushland within inner Melbourne. diverse range of experiences Studley Park has remained so due to its throughout the Park will be reservation for recreation purposes appropriate in quality, number and since 1877. It is significant for the diversity to support the needs of accommodation provided to late existing and new visitors. This nineteenth century public institutions, as includes facilities for passive and well as its association with a number of informal recreation (such as walking, notable 19th century artists. The former cycling and dog-walking) as well as Burns boathouse (now Studley Park active and formal recreation (such as boathouse) is the oldest on the Yarra, organised sport and golf.) and possibly Victoria, and has been in • continuous use since 1863. The Park will accommodate a greater number of visitors from a wider area of Melbourne in an environmentally 2.3 GUIDING sustainable way. This will mean P RINCIPLES dispersing use to specific areas that have the capacity for increased
visitation. Parks Victoria’s and the Yarra Bend Trust’s strategic approach to responding Cultural Heritage to the issues facing the Park and • The remaining elements of the Park’s realising this Vision will be underpinned Koori and post-European settlement by the following guiding principles: history will be protected and the natural and cultural history of the
4 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Park made accessible to visitors through interpretation, information and promotion, where appropriate. Management • Clearly defined and sustainable priorities for resource allocation will underpin Park management actions. This prioritisation will apply to the maintenance and protection of areas of recognised environmental importance, as well as the provision of visitor services. • Community involvement will be encouraged, supported and guided for the benefit of the Park and community.
Map 1, The Strategy Plan, shows the key strategies for the Park.
5 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
3.2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL R ISKS 3 PARK WIDE There are a number of threats to the STRATEGIES indigenous flora and fauna values of the Park, including: The Park Values and Guiding Principles • Weed invasion, which reduces the provide a base from which detailed opportunities for regeneration of objectives for Environmental indigenous flora through competition Management, Visitor Management and and altered environmental Cultural Heritage Management can be characteristics, such as soil and light developed to guide strategies in each of penetration. Additionally, weeds these key areas. can act as a harbour for pest animals such as foxes and rabbits. This section describes the various • Exotic animals in the Park create a strategies that apply to the Park as a threat to conservation potential. The whole, while Section 4 describes threats come from animals which strategies for individual zones. have found their way into the Strategies related to the Yarra River are environment and are living in the dealt with in detail in that section also. wild, including rabbits, foxes, feral cats and dogs, exotic birds, introduced fish and feral bees and 3.1 RISK M ANAGEMENT wasps. Threats exist also from uncontrolled companion animals brought to the Park. A comprehensive Risk Evaluation and • Assessment has been carried out for the Soil erosion and compaction is a Park in 1997. The actions and significant issue in the Park due to strategies contained in this report will be the fragile erodible soils and the undertaken to ensure a safe levels of use found within particular environment for Park visitors and staff. areas of the Park. • Stormwater drainage from roads and the urban surroundings enters the Park in a number of locations 3.2 THE E NVIRONMENT and carries unnaturally high nutrient loads and other toxins. While the Park contains a number of • Wood removal and visitors gaining areas of high environmental value (refer access to the bank have caused Map 2, Vegetation Condition & occasional damage to vegetation. Geology), the remaining areas of the • Uncontrolled fire can result in Park are of lower environmental value. increased weed invasion, loss of Consequently, environmental hollows for dependant species and management strategies need to reflect stimulates both weed and the environmental values of individual indigenous species seed areas and ensure the maintenance of germination. flora and fauna diversity within the Park. • While flooding is a natural process, the increase due to urbanisation With a total area of 233 ha and upstream, as well as other approximately 100 ha of indigenous catchment management regimes, vegetation, the Park’s bushland is (including desnagging and removal distributed mostly as a linear strip, of flood zones,) has increased the roughly following the course of the Yarra impact within the Park and River and Merri Creek. It acts as both a particularly increases river bank reservoir for fauna and a corridor for erosion. local, regional and national fauna movement. Additionally, it is an 3.2.2 STRATEGIES important resource as a seedbank of local provenance seeds, enhancing the The areas of quality vegetation condition genetic diversity of the region. are identified on Map 2. The greatest concentration of resources will go into protecting and enhancing these areas along the lines defined in the strategies that follow. It should be noted that the 6 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN day to day implementation of these regimes do not unnecessarily add to strategies will be guided by the detailed the nutrient load in the River. Environmental Management Plan (EMP) • Protect popular fishing sites and for the Park. This EMP addresses: viewing locations from degradation • The River and riparian areas; through the construction of trails, • Existing vegetation management; boardwalks and decks to specific • Weed control; locations that are designed to • Revegetation; accommodate higher usage. • Pest animals; • Accommodate a relatively frequent • Habitat management and occurrence of dog access locations enhancement. to the river which are reinforced with light timber decking to prevent Yarra River and Merri erosion. Creek • Reinforce the River bank only in • Concentrate effort on improving the locations where important assets are quality of the riparian zone vegetation located. Such protection will be through the entire Park, reinforcing carried out in an environmentally and the substantial vegetative edge along aesthetically sympathetic manner. both sides of the River. Commence • Manage canoeing and other water- enhancement from the areas of most based activities to defined entry/exit intact vegetation. points on the River. • Encourage the development of a species-specific strategy for the Flora and Fauna protection and habitat improvement • Concentrate resources on the of the Australian Grayling regeneration, restoration and (Prototroctes maraena). enhancement of bushland within • In relation to storm-water outlets existing areas of high environmental within the Park, liaise with adjacent value. Focus on the broader riparian local government authorities to areas as a fauna corridor through the improve water quality in the Yarra Park. and Merri Creek, particularly through • Prepare grass management plans for the installation of silt and litter traps all native and exotic grassland areas, on all inlets. In appropriate drainage ensuring these recognise grassland lines, create wetland systems for silt importance for faunal habitat. and nutrient stripping at stormwater • Manage all areas of basalt plains inlet points. grassland according to the • Work with Melbourne Water to requirements of the Action Statement ensure that the bed and banks of the as part of the Flora and Fauna River are managed to maximise Guarantee Act. habitat potential by retaining snags • For areas designated to be removed and submerged habitat objects in the from sporting or similar open uses, River unless they pose a direct threat target revegetation at the to water based recreational uses. establishment of the upper storey Where such risk occurs, negotiate species, rather than developing a full removal of snags only to the extent compliment of species at all levels. required to reduce the risk to a • Maintain the genetic integrity of manageable level, while retaining vegetation communities by using habitat. local provenance seed in all • Work with Melbourne Water and the revegetation works. City of Yarra to remove woody weed • Continue to work with Vicroads to species along the waterways, reduce the weed seed source along particularly Willows. Ensure removal the Boulevard and to develop the methods create the minimum “bushland” experience along the negative impact on the banks and Boulevard with additional that replacement plantings are revegetation. carried out with indigenous species. • Protect areas of culturally important • Liaise with Melbourne Water to exotic vegetation (see Cultural develop emergency procedures for Heritage Strategies for further detail) the occurrence of pollution spills. • Ensure the Golf Course maintenance • Develop species specific strategies contract specifies that fertiliser for the protection of habitat for 7 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
species listed under the Flora and Geology Fauna Guarantee Act, as well as • Protect declared and significant those listed under JAMBA/CAMBA. geological and geomorphological Where necessary, carry out sites of interest from inappropriate additional research to determine the development or change. (Some sites specific utilisation of the Park by are already on the State Register.) these species. • Promote the educational values of • Implement the species Action the Park’s geology to educational Statement for the Regent institutions. Honeyeater. • Maintain the wetland revegetation Research area in the vicinity of the Park Depot • Seek opportunities for further co- as one area within the Park that is a operative land management research complete sample of pre-contact and exploration with educational vegetation community. institutions, both secondary and tertiary. Pest Plants and • Establish clearly identifiable research Animals needs and priorities for the Park that • The weed management strategy will can be marketed to educational address, in order of priority: institutions in a way that will . weed control in the designated maximise the acceptance and uptake areas of high value; of the research opportunities. . targeting of weeds designated as • Ensure all land management works posing the greatest threat to carried out on the site are monitored biodiversity within each and recorded for effectiveness to management area; allow a knowledge base to be . targeting of woody weeds in areas established in relation to urban of lower environmental bushland management. Where significance to minimise the appropriate, use land management adverse visual impact on the initiatives as opportunities for Park. Such weeds include researching or trialing different Boneseed, Gorse, Blackberry, methodologies to add to the Willow, Boxthorn, Pines, Box knowledge base. Elders, Ash trees and Elms; . revegetating areas occupied by weeds that are possible to control, such as Kikuyu. • Involve community and environmental interest groups in weed management according to the priorities established in the Environmental Management Plan. • Develop a range of management actions to control pest animals such as rabbits, foxes and feral cats. • Continue the current eradication programs for rabbits and explore methods of minimising re-infestation from adjacent areas.
Fire Hazard Management • Prepare and annually update a fire action plan that details emergency responses for fire control in or near the Park. • Monitor and assess the effectiveness of controlled burns as a method of fire risk management and their consequent impact on vegetation.
8 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
3.3 VISITOR see the park attracting visitors from a M ANAGEMENT wider regional catchment.
Tourists 3.3.1 EXISTING V ISITOR This group currently makes up only a G ROUPS very small proportion of Yarra Bend Park users. It is likely that the park attracts A number of visitor groups can be many ‘drive through’ tourists viewing the identified from recent visitor research scenery from cars and buses who have undertaken within the park (Yann not been captured by the visitor Campbell Hoare Wheeler 1997). The research. The position of the park close major groups are: to the city providing the ‘bushland in the City’ experience could, in the future, see Recreation Users the park well placed as one of This group makes up 40% of park users Melbourne’s tourist attractions. who visit the park to be with family and friends, picnic, walk and to play with Large Social Groups children. Large groups do not make up a high proportion of visitors to Yarra Bend Park. Passive Users & Nature Attracting large social groups will Lovers diversify the range of visitors to the park The park’s environmental qualities providing a picnic and barbecue location provide a strong motivation for many close to the City. visitors who are attracted to the scenery, views and the experience of communing River Users with nature. A significant proportion of visitors have direct contact with the river. There is Sporting Users and scope for further increasing the visitor Fitness Seekers experience with the river by promoting The park provides for a diverse range of river activities as one of the main sports and fitness activities including reasons for visiting the park. team competition, golf, fly casting, cycling, running and training for athletic Local Diverse Cultural competitions. Groups The local Park catchment has high Studley Park proportions of people from other Boathouse Visitors cultures. Research indicates these Visiting the Boathouse features strongly groups are traditionally not frequent park in peoples experience with 60% of users. However, the park could broaden visitors having been to the area in the it’s attraction to these diverse groups past 12 months. through active promotion strategies.
3.3.2 FUTURE V ISITOR 3.3.3 FUTURE V ISITOR G ROUPS N UMBERS
The visitor profile of Yarra Bend Park A 20% increase in visitor numbers to the strongly reflects that of the local park is expected by the year 2007. The catchment, particularly from suburbs in park can absorb this increase, providing Boroondara. The Park will continue to the additional visitors are directed into attract a large proportion of visitors from areas where the increased use can be these areas. However, there is scope accommodated without negative impact for other visitor groups, which are not on the environment. The estimate is well represented at present, to use the based on: Park thus broadening its attraction to a • an expected increase simply due to wider regional area. These groups are: growing park use by the community; • the proposed improved facilities Family Groups with generally; Children • promotion as a tourist venue; At present a high proportion of Yarra • the development of the Deep Rock Bend Park visitors come from families Picnic and playground facilities; and without children. Creating an attraction for this group in the community could 9 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
• the development of commercial • Address the frequent inappropriate facilities at the 18 hole golf course use of male public toilet facilities and Studley Park Reception Centre. throughout the park.
With the implementation of the Picnic Facilities strategies contained in this Plan, • Improve existing picnic facilities to increases in visitation are expected in: bring them to an acceptable • the Ovals and Loop Road area, standard. (including Deep Rock and the Golf • Increase the number and range of Course Reception Centre); picnic facilities including shelters at • Andrews Reserve area; and selected sites to increase the park’s • The Studley Park Reception and Par capacity and to cater to a wider 3 Golf Course areas. variety of users. A reduction in the proportion of park users is expected at Studley Park, an Playgrounds area already under significant • Increase the number and improve the environmental pressure from current quality of playgrounds at selected visitor levels. Parking capacity will locations in the park, including the remain as a limitation to visitor numbers development of a significant here. playground of regional attraction. • Ensure a range of children’s ages and play experiences are catered for 3.3.4 VISITOR F ACILITIES in playground design. • Ensure playground design considers The standard of visitor facilities within the need for shade and seating, as Yarra Bend Park generally does not well as accommodating people with meet the basic standard established by disabilities. Parks Victoria in terms of the quality, location and number of facilities Accessibility provided. Although much of the park (See Section 3.5 Access & Circulation) facility infrastructure is old, a $1m upgrading of facilities in 1997 has seen Walking & Cycle tracks a marked improvement in the quality of (See Section 3.5 Access & Circulation) visitor amenities. Viewing points The most frequently used facilities within • Create a range of accessible viewing the park are walking tracks (see Section points throughout the park at 3.2 Access & Circulation), the Yarra strategic locations where views of River and Studley Park Boathouse, The Melbourne City and the bushland other food service facilities are well used setting are best highlighted. followed by toilets and picnic facilities. • Create short stay parking places at a number of identified viewing locations It is recognised that one of the popular on roads throughout the park. activities undertaken at Yarra Bend Park • Provide seating and interpretation is walking the dog. “Dog off lead” areas material at selected viewing will be provided south of Westfield, the locations. Fairlea sports fields and Collins oval, while the remainder of the park will be Park Amenities designated as “Dog on lead”. • Upgrade seating throughout the park particularly on trails at points of The following facilities have been scenic interest. highlighted to be addressed as part of • Increase the number of drinking taps the Strategy Plan: throughout the park located along trails at points close to existing water Toilet Facilities service locations. • Rationalise the provision of toilet • Provide bins in areas adjacent to facilities throughout the park to food outlets with a “Carry In Carry ensure they are located Out” policy adopted for other areas of appropriately and are easily the park. accessible to high use areas. • Improve the quality of toilet facilities. 10 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Companion Animals aim of attracting more golfers and • Designate the entire Park as “Dogs meeting a broader range of visitor on lead”, except for designated needs than is currently provided for. “Dogs off lead” areas including: . south of Westfield; 9 hole Par 3 Course . Fairlea sports fields; and • Maintain the course to an acceptable . Collins Oval. playing standard. • Develop a marketing strategy for the • Provide facilities for owners to course. retrieve and remove dog droppings. • Investigate additional recreational Such facilities will be incorporated at opportunities for the area all dogs-off-lead areas and along the main trail network. Sports Grounds • Dog access to the river should be • Rationalise the number of sports encouraged only in those areas grounds from 13 to 7 to reflect designed to accommodate them current demand and seize the where minimum damage to the river opportunity to create additional banks will result. unstructured areas within the park. • Work with adjacent local • Improve the quality of the sports governments to improve community grounds in poor condition through understanding of the importance of negotiation with current sports responsible pet ownership. ground users. • Work with the local community, • Explore the potential of the sports especially local dog groups, to grounds to accommodate a wider educate park users about dog policy. range of seasonal sports.
3.3.5 SPORTS F ACILITIES Ropes Course • Seek interest from outside Sports facilities are an important organisations to upgrade and element of Yarra Bend Park adding to its manage the Ropes Course to an ambience and encouraging a diverse acceptable safety standard. If no range of visitors to the park. interest can be established, remove Concentrated in the Westfield, Fairlea the course. and Loop Road Areas, the facilities have a long history in the park. The formal Studley Point Loop sports of golf, (with both the 18 hole Road Cycling Circuit course and Par 3 course,) cricket (turf • Further promote the Studley Point and concrete wickets), soccer and fly Loop Road to bicycle clubs and casting, as well as canoeing and organisations as a venue for kayaking on the river are competitive cycling events promoting accommodated. Cycling and events widely across the park. orienteering events also take place within the park. Fly Casting Pool • Negotiate with Red Tag Fly Fishers Sports facilities should remain as an to develop the site with additional element of the park where demand facilities available for club and remains strong and facilities can be community use. The club’s plans for maintained to an acceptable standard. some additional facilities in the area would further enhance the area, with 18 hole Golf Course the provision of a rotunda and • Maintain the course to a high playing picnic/barbecue facilities. standard to ensure it’s ongoing success and attraction to a Bicycle Usage Melbourne wide and broader Demand on the park as a venue for catchment. informal sports activities and most • Maximise use of the course through particularly for training has increased as development of a targeted marketing community interest in mountain bike and strategy. general cycling has increased. Fitness • Work with the Golf Course activities are very popular with park management to ensure the Golf visitors, with the park’s terrain offering Course development achieves the physical challenges and an environment 11 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN not found elsewhere as close to developing its profile and use, Melbourne. Complicating this however particularly to new users groups. is the detrimental impact uncontrolled mountain bike use can have on the environment and the safety of trail and 3.4.1 SIGNAGE & track users. I NFORMATION • Work with local mountain bike clubs to develop a strategy for reducing off • Develop a Park-specific signage road impact on Yarra Bend Park. strategy, using Parks Victoria • In conjunction with local clubs, standards, throughout the Park identify an acceptable trail system addressing directional and orientation within the park suitable for off-road signage needs. mountain bike use and promote that • Improve existing points of entry with system to direct use away from clearly identified ‘gateways’, sensitive park areas. preceded by appropriate tourist • Explore with Vicroads the potential to signage on main roads. promote the Boulevard as a training • Clearly identify the Park in Melbourne and competition venue for cyclists, street directories with entry points with due regard to traffic and risk more clearly marked. issues. • Develop a park-specific interpretive signage strategy for the Park, using Parks Victoria standards and 3.3.6 PROGRAMS accommodating the individual opportunities for interpretation There is opportunity for programs to be identified throughout this plan. better developed within the Park thereby • Within the overall Parks Victoria increasing the range of recreation information and marketing strategy, opportunities available. develop a park-specific information plan addressing the most effective Community Events medium for information • Develop an annual calendar of dissemination/provision throughout activities through promotion of the the Park and for specific elements park’s venues to local government (eg. the use of “Park Notes” as and community groups. opposed to interpretive signage in • Promote the natural lawn situ for particular environmental or amphitheatre at Deep Rock and the cultural elements.) Loop Road area for large community events, such as musical performances, plays and films. 3.4.2 CALENDAR OF A CTIVITIES Camping • Investigate opportunities for Yarra Bend Park has enormous potential controlled group camping within the to provide a range of events and Park to add to the diversity of activities that will raise the profile of the recreation experience provided. park and increase awareness of the Possible sites include the River at diversity of activities and attractions. Fairlea and River View, as well as • Develop a calendar of activities that: north of Bellbird. . is consistent with the vision for the • Camping opportunities should be park; packaged with other activities . is coordinated with existing throughout the park to make them tourism bodies to avoid clashes with attractive for community group use. existing events in Melbourne. • Focus events on potential new market groups and the surrounding 3.4 MARKETING & community. • Link with surrounding Councils to I NFORMATION promote and encourage the park to be used as an event venue. Marketing of the Park and provision of information through signage and promotional material will assist in 12 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
3.4.3 ATTRACTING N EW The park should be promoted to large V ISITORS groups through: • Liaison and co-ordination with Successful marketing of Yarra Bend surrounding municipalities; Park must be based on the • Promotion to regional businesses; understanding of the market. Each of • Periodic ‘interest’ stories in local the target markets identified requires a newspapers. targeted campaign. River Users Develop a detailed visitor strategy, • Ensure the calendar introduces a incorporating at least the following number of events that focus on the strategies: river. • Investigate the establishment of a National and Overseas boat link between Studley Park Tourists Boathouse and Fairfield Boathouse. For the overseas tourist market (especially overseas short-stay tourists Cross Selling to who are ‘time poor’ and cannot travel Existing Park Users further from Melbourne), it is important In addition to attracting new visitors to to build the image of the park with the park, the marketing strategy should emphasis on the two Melbourne icons also address “cross selling” the various of: activities offered in the park to existing • the Studley Park Boathouse and users. This can partly be addressed Yarra Bend Golf Course; and through increased brand awareness, • the Park’s Australian bushland whereby existing and potential users will setting. become aware that Yarra Bend Park • Develop a promotional strategy for offers diversity. the park in liaison with regional, State and National tourist agencies. The recent introduction of a Ranger Centre at Studley Park is a step in this Families with Children cross selling process. Other initiatives • Creation of a new playground area at could include: Deep Rock, well away from the river • Investigation of the private sector should prove an attraction to parents utilising the river for transporting with young children who may not visit groups; the park because of their safety • Developing a database of inquiries to concerns with the river. enable mailing of event information to • Explore private sector interest in those who have expressed interest in establishing a hire service for ‘all specific areas; terrain’ strollers, as terrain throughout • Distribute the Calendar of Activities the park varies. through the Ranger Centre. • Provide families with an alternative to Fairfield Park.
Local Diverse Cultural 3.4.4 EDUCATION Groups Encourage cultural groups to visit the The Park is a rich resource for park by: environmental and other forms of • Promoting a park through: education for students at primary, . non-English media secondary and tertiary levels. (newspapers, radio); . local and regional cultural social • Promote the use of the park for such groups; educational purposes, concentrating • exploring the introduction of particularly on environmental culturally specific activity zones eg. education. boules, bocce. • Develop partnerships with secondary and tertiary institutions Large Social Groups that can partake in research and/or It is important to consider the needs of land management programs within the organisers of large social gatherings. the park.
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• Design disabled and frail aged access into the Park to ensure: 3.5 ACCESS AND . a range of park environments is C IRCULATION accessible, including the river’s edge; The degree of access throughout the . appropriate surfacing and Park will differ according to the particular contours. setting’s role and the environment’s • Provide parking for the disabled and capacity to accommodate access. frail aged at major parking areas throughout the Park. Strategies • Ensure disabled and frail aged • Develop clearly identifiable entry access is accommodated in the points to the Park from all pedestrian, design of all new visitor facilities. cycle and vehicle entries. • Develop loop trails from major visitor use areas and provide adequate signage and information to 3.6 CULTURAL encourage use. H ERITAGE • Establish a hierarchy of paths and trails with the design, construction 3.6.1 ABORIGINAL HISTORY and maintenance appropriate to the level of use intended and reinforcing Yarra Bend is the site of the first the creation of a variety of visitor Aboriginal Protectorate and Mission in experiences on the different trail the Melbourne, established in 1837. (It types. The range of path types has been nominated for inclusion on the would include: Register of the National Estate). This . the Main Yarra Trail as a 2.5m was for the “containment” of the wide bitumen or concrete dual use Aboriginal community, and served to pathway; both protect and assimilate the native . main Park trails, in high use community of the district. It was where areas, surfaced in gravel; the Koori’s could continue a traditional . low key access trails, the form of lifestyle near the city without fear dominant trail type distributed of attack from settlers. through the Park, with earth or mulch surfacing as required by The details of Yarra Bend’s pre-contact the specific situation. significance, and the values derived • Control access points in isolated from Aboriginal tradition have not been areas and reduce the excessive determined. Additionally, the area has number of informal trails. not yet been fully surveyed for aboriginal • Protect river banks as far as possible archaeological sites. by defining pathways some metres back from the edge. In popular viewing locations, control access to the banks with appropriate fencing and timber decking where necessary. • Provide access for people with disabilities at the future Deep Rock development, the Golf Course Loop Road and Studley Park boathouse area. • Provide informal stopping and resting points along all major pathways, particularly the Yarra Trail, to take advantage of views and landscape qualities of particular areas. • Maintain and promote the Boulevard’s role as: . a key tourist route to and through the Park; and 3.6.2 EUROPEAN HISTORY . a cycling, walking and running venue. 14 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Yarra Bend Park’s long history with the of management strategies and creation of public open space and directions for identified sites of recreational facilities close to the city is Aboriginal Significance within the manifest particularly in Studley Park and park. also represented in a number of existing • Comply with the requirements of the buildings (several of which are included Heritage Act 1995 and the on the Register of the National Estate). Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics The park is also significant for its Preservation Act 1972 in respect to association with the development of a archaeological finds deriving from range of public institutions from the mid- site excavations associated with park 1800’s and early 1900’s. The most development and activity. notable of these was the Yarra Bend • Retain and enhance the traditional Lunatic Asylum which is evident in exotic landscape character variety and plantings that once formed part of its recreation mix and uses of the Park. expansive gardens. The park is • Provide interpretive information to significant also for its connection with a Park visitors to help in the range of notable artists who were drawn appreciation of cultural values. to the area in the 19th Century.
3.7 PARK C HARACTER 3.6.3 STRATEGIES & SETTINGS
The following strategies define the The overall character of the various framework for managing the Park’s parts of the Park contribute significantly important cultural history. The detail of to its attractiveness to users. This specific management actions to achieve character is contributed to by the natural these strategies is part of the Yarra landscape, the human modified Bend Park Cultural Heritage landscape and the various built Management Plan. elements that occur throughout the Park. These include park buildings, fences, • Acknowledge and respect significant roadways, park furniture, shelters, signs former occupations and uses of the and many other structures. Protection park areas through: and enhancement of the existing • adoption of conservation policies attractive park character requires a clear as recommended in the Yarra direction in relation to these elements Bend Conservation Plan 1998; from an “aesthetic” point of view, as well • retention and conservation of as the environmental and visitor identified significant physical management perspectives outlined remnants in accordance with elsewhere. Burra Charter principles and practices; The following list outlines the general • provision of interpretive character to be aimed at in the opportunities of culturally management of the Park, with the intent significant aspects and former being to provide a diverse range of occupations of the park area; environmental settings that reinforce the • planning and development of new intrinsic attractiveness of the Park. The and renewed park facilities which “Zones” named are defined in Map 3, is sensitive to both remnant Management Zones and are broadly physical and site cultural values. consistent with the zones used in the • Consult with appropriate local 1990 Management Plan. Aboriginal community representatives in the development
Management Zone Zone Character Zone 1 Yarra River Management Zone • Retain and reinforce the original woodland character of the river valley.
Zone 2 Westfield/Fairlea Management Area 2A Westfield • Maintain the existing mixed landscape 15 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Management Zone Zone Character character. • Improve views and vistas from Yarra Bend Road and Heidelberg Road, while providing screening to picnic areas.
2B Merri Creek Valley & • Reinforce open woodland character of Escarpment indigenous species on the “plateau” area, incorporating sports fields, with denser vegetation on the escarpment and within the Merri Creek valley itself. • Maintain Yarra Bend Road as a high quality scenic road providing excellent views to the City skyline.
2C Fairlea • Reinforce the mixed character of open sporting parkland on the upper plateau and riparian woodland along the Yarra River. • Screen the freeway and install indigenous plantings through the area to assist fauna movement across the plateau between the valleys. Zone 3 River Bend Management Area 3A Deep Rock • Provide a highly maintained exotic turf picnic area, with open woodland plantings of indigenous trees.
3B River View • Reinforce the wetland area to provide an environmental example of the type of plant community that would have been typical of flood plain sections of the Park.
3C Golf Course Loop Road • Maintain the existing exotic plantings as the visual framework for an area of well maintained lawns and a picturesque sports field with bluestone features.
Zone 4 Golf Course Management Area 4 Golf Course/Development • Retain the existing mixed exotic and indigenous plantings to provide an attractive setting along the river, as well as habitat opportunities between the fairways and along the River. Zone 5 Trig Point Management Area 5 Wurundjeri Spur – Trig Point • Maintain the existing bushland character of the area with additional revegetation and erosion control measures. Zone 6 Willsmere Management Area 6A Hairpin Bend • Retain the existing bushland character on the escarpment and reinforce where necessary with revegetation.
6B Wills Street/Willsmere • Retain the excellent views from this area Precinct through the maintenance of the open woodland character. The area will be
16 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Management Zone Zone Character maintained as a wild area of the Park, with long grass and predominantly indigenous tree and shrub plantings.
6C Bellbird • Manage the area to provide a quality mown turf area in a bushland setting, with formalised access to the river. Additional indigenous plantings will provide a greater buffer to the Boulevard to the east.
Zone 7 Studley Park Management Area 7A Studley Park Boathouse • Maintain the series of picnic and barbecue Precinct areas on the river banks, linked by paths and a carpark, with the Kiosk and Restaurant forming the focus of the precinct. • Retain the predominantly indigenous bushland character, while preserving the exotic plantings around the boatshed and picnic area.
7B Studley Park Lower Bushland • Maintain and enhance the better quality natural areas on the slopes and retain the bushland character of the flats, without creating a major requirement for high levels of revegetation or weed management through the zone.
7C Studley Park Upper Bushland • Reinforce the “bush in the city” concept at this important visual entry to the Park, with a complete range of upper, middle and under- storey species.
7D Studley Point Loop Road • Reinforce the areas of high quality bushland on the ridge and slopes. • Provide an appropriately designed lookout area to capitalise on the excellent views from the centre of the loop road, linking through path systems to the lower areas adjacent to the River.
Zone 8 Lower Yarra Management Area 8A Par 3 Golf Course, Studley • As senescence occurs, promote the gradual Park Receptions & Norris reversion of the area to dominantly Reserve indigenous bushland. • Retain the Par 3 Golf Course to provide an attractive recreational environment with excellent views. The Café redevelopment will provide a modified landscape, with a mix of indigenous, native and exotic species appropriate to a higher use and higher maintenance zone.
8B Andrews Reserve • Retain the open parkland character of the picnic areas. To the south and east,
17 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Management Zone Zone Character reinforce a more indigenous character, blending into the adjacent Dickinson Reserve vegetation.
8C Dickinson Reserve • Reinforce the existing high quality vegetation in the area.
Zone 9 • The unique character of the Boulevard will The Boulevard be reinforced, particularly in relation to driving through the bush and the built elements of stone retaining walls and the like. Vegetation along the Boulevard will reinforce the “bush in the City” concept, with revegetation where necessary and removal of pest plants where required.
3.7.1 STRATEGIES
In relation to the overall park character, the following strategies will be applied: • All works will harmonise with the existing character of the Park, including: . adopt materials, colours and styles that are natural, appropriate and in character with Park; . where appropriate, building styles should be sympathetic with the Golf House and/or Boat house; . roadways will only be wide enough to accommodate the required traffic at slow speeds and materials will be in keeping with the character of the older existing roads in the Park. • Provide for significant views into the Park from adjacent roadways by controlled use of planting to create vistas, while providing other areas that are screened from roads. • For security reasons, wherever possible, design carparks to allow clear views of cars from adjacent areas. • Design all revegetation and path works to minimise the visual intrusion of surrounding urban development. • Design all built elements to optimise the balance between initial capital development costs and recurrent maintenance costs.
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4ZONE . further developing viewing and access points to the River; STRATEGIES . more actively promoting the profile of the River through all These key actions and strategies have interpretive and directional been developed to address issues that information; are specific to the individual zones in the . investigating the commercial Park. The location of the zones viability of one way rowing boat described is shown on Map 3. hire or Ferry service between Fairfield and Studley Park Boathouses (subject to Z ONE 1 economic and environmental Y ARRA R IVER feasibility studies, particularly in M ANAGEMENT Z ONE relation to noise, wash and snag issues); Role: . promoting club use of the River • To provide the environmental and access amenities; and “backbone” for the Park. . promoting water based • To be part of the overall fauna competition on the River. movement corridor of the Yarra • Promote use of the river to local, Valley. national and international (tourist) • To be one of the key recreation users. attractions in the Park. • Explore and promote opportunities for water based sporting activities Key Strategies: within the Park. Environmental Management • Create a clear and well promoted • Reinforce the important role of the link to Dights Falls from the Deep fauna corridor through enhancement Rock area. of the riparian vegetation throughout • Explore with Melbourne Water and the Park. the City of Yarra opportunities for • Create a broad indigenous water based recreation at Dights vegetation band along the full length Falls. of the river on both banks. Concentrate revegetation efforts on ONE upper and middle storey species, Z 2 while seizing opportunities in areas W ESTFIELD / FAIRLEA with existing good quality lower M ANAGEMENT A REA storey species to reinforce the diversity they create. 2A WESTFIELD • Work with local government and Melbourne Water to maximise the Role: water quality in the river. • To provide the major northern entry • Encourage appropriate authorities to the Park. (local government, Melbourne • To be a focus for accommodation of Water) to install silt and litter traps in large group picnic and barbecue the storm-water systems leading into activities, with a strong connection the river. to Fairfield Park. • Wherever possible, formalise and • To be a key orientation and reinforce viewing and access areas information dissemination point. to the river to minimise erosion • To form part of the Main Yarra and damage. Merri Creek Trails. • Develop an education campaign for fishermen to encourage responsible Key Strategies: river use and access. Promote use Environmental Management by them of the reinforced viewing • Through liaison with the City of and access areas. Darebin, promote co-operative and consistent land and visitor Visitor Management management and a vehicular • Promote appropriate recreational use of the River by:
19 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
access link between Yarra Bend • Review the future of the pavilion Park and Fairfield Park. amenities in light of the establishment or otherwise of a Visitor Management viable sporting use of the adjacent • Improve the quality of the entrance oval. experience with a substantial • Remove the infrequently used landscape development of the soccer ground and revegetate with entrance roadway to the Golf indigenous woodland plantings. Course Loop Road, addressing: • Develop additional specific viewing . the sense of entry and locations along the escarpment trail orientation; (Main Yarra Trail.) . traffic and parking issues; • Improve the amenities along the trail . potential relationships to including seats and drinking Fairfield Park; and fountains, particularly at these . the view potentials. strategic viewing locations. • Investigate potential to share use of • Promote the area as one for “Dogs carpark in northern portion of former off leads” on the upper plateau area. Fairfield Hospital site with future Install facilities for dog owners to user and/or Fairfield Park. remove droppings from the Park. • To increase use of the Park by large • Promote the trail links to Dights Falls social groups and families, upgrade and the Merri Creek Trail. Westfield picnic area to better accommodate large group use. Cultural Heritage Management • Preserve and interpret remnant gate Cultural Heritage Management pillar from the entrance to the Yarra • Maintain exotic vegetation in the Bend Asylum Infirmary (included on picnic area as part of the landscape the State Heritage Register). heritage of the area. • Provide interpretive information about the previous occupations of the site, including the Aboriginal Protectorate, 2B MERRI C REEK V ALLEY Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum, The & ESCARPMENT Infectious Diseases Hospital, and Fairlea Women’s Prison. Role: • To support the continuity and quality of the Merri Creek habitat corridor. 2C FAIRLEA • To provide high quality trail experiences with some of the best Role: views to the City. • To continue active sports while • To provide for “Dogs off lead” in a providing for a more diverse range defined area of the Park. of recreation activities. • To reinforce fauna link between Key Strategies: Merri and Yarra valleys and form Environmental Management part of the trail link between the two. • Continue extension of indigenous • To provide a central management escarpment vegetation along the point and public interface for the valley, maintaining view corridors Park. from the upper plateau. • To provide opportunity for a • Continue intensive weed control of community involvement focal point fennel on the escarpment, as well as for the Park addressing the scattered occurrences of other weed species. Key Strategies: Environmental Management Visitor Management • Implement revegetation of the Yarra • Improve the surrounds of sports bank area, east of the former fields in the zone with amenity Fairfield hospital, concentrating on plantings and seating. upper storey plantings to create an • Increase the density of vegetation open woodland character, with an along the freeway margin at the understorey of exotic grasses. southern end of the precinct.
20 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
• Continue weed control, • Provide interpretive information concentrating on: about the Pipe Bridge, its history . blackberry thickets; and use. .furze; . Serrated Tussock; and . other sporadic occurrences of Z ONE 3 weed species. R IVER B END • Formalise a small number of viewing M ANAGEMENT A REA points along the river bank pathway to encourage access to the river at 3A DEEP R OCK specifically protected or reinforced areas. Role: • Increase upper and middle storey • To provide a new passive vegetation along the edge of the recreational focus, primarily catering Eastern Freeway to provide avi- to families with children. fauna habitat and visual buffering • To continue support for active sports from the freeway. use, but with rationalised playing • Manage the new plantings to the fields. south of the former Fairlea Hospital • To provide relief for visitor pressure site to maximise the area’s potential on other areas, particularly the Loop to provide for a fauna corridor. As Road. far as possible within the constraints • To provide an accessible gateway to of the adjacent sports fields, Dights Falls. increase the upper canopy plantings • To provide an opportunity for along the south side of the access occasional large events. road.
Key Strategies: Visitor Management Environmental Management • Promote new Park Office location • Increase river margin vegetation. through clear signage. • Continue to control weeds in the • Promote Fairlea sports ovals as river margin areas, concentrating on designated “dog off lead” area. • infestations, which reduce the Provide interpretive signage at the biodiversity of these areas. fly fishing pool to inform other • Install additional woodland plantings visitors of its use and times of use. • around proposed picnic area and Support the development of the between retained ovals and additional facilities proposed by the proposed picnic area. Red Tag Fly Fishing Club, subject to • Enhance freeway edge plantings to suitable lease and management maximise screening effect. arrangements. • Formalise pathway connecting • Retain the larger Fairlea oval and Dights Falls to the Golf Course Loop pavilion for active sport. • Road area to prevent further Revegetate the smaller eastern oval erosion. and link to the Fly Fishing Pool
enhancement proposals. Visitor Management • Establish a connecting trail from the • To increase use of the Park by Yarra Valley to the Merri Creek. family groups with children, prepare • Monitor the effectiveness of a concept plan for the development screening vegetation for the Fairfield of a new picnic facility at Deep Psychiatric facility to ensure the Rock, incorporating the lower open minimum visual intrusion on the space and the “Cricket Oval” (south Park. of the existing carpark area.) The concept plan should include: Cultural Heritage Management . a large scale playground; • Determine an appropriate, park . an extended carpark area; related use for the remaining . seating, limited picnic tables and “Fairlea” building or otherwise a drinking fountain; remove it and revegetate the area. . barbecue and picnic facilities;
21 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
. picnic shelters in the lower open Particularly address weed control for space; Serrated Tussock and Kikuyu. . new toilet facilities to Parks • Formalise the walking trail along the Victoria standards; river bank with a mulched surface. . revegetation of the picnic area • Continue to support the wetland site to create shade and areas area as an example of pre-contact of seclusion. grassy woodland and floodplain • Develop a series of loop trails wetland vegetation associations. connecting to Dights Falls, Kanes Bridge and the remaining ovals. Visitor Management • Enhance the natural amphitheatre at • Install small interpretive shelter at the south end of the lower Deep the wetlands and provide directional Rock picnic area for use as a low signage from Yarra Bend Road. intensity and frequency venue for • Provide signage to the river bank outdoor community theatre and walking trail from the Wetlands. music events. Market the venue to • Support the use of the remaining the local and wider community. building by the existing arts group. • To further promote the profile of the • Formalise the trail system and River, develop reinforced river clearly signpost the link through to viewing points to provide access the river, under the Freeway and to without degradation of the banks. Fairfield Boathouse. • Investigate with Vicroads the • Rationalise the size of the Park potential to install noise barriers Depot, remove the former Park along the Freeway edge from the Office and revegetate the site to cutting to west of the Park. improve visual and physical links to the River. Cultural Heritage Management • Provide interpretive information about the history of The Deep Rock 3C GOLF C OURSE L OOP Swimming Club - the precursor for R OAD organised recreational activities and facilities in Yarra Bend Park. Role: • Repair remnant foundation stone. • To continue to provide a major • Conserve Pioneer Memorial Stones passive recreational focus for (currently in the park depot) for northern side of river, possible future use, as an element accommodating increased use for interpretive purposes. generated by the proposed • Provide interpretive information and reception centre and associated directional signage to the Koori facilities. Garden area. • To provide a location for enhanced • Liaise with the City of Yarra to river access. provide signage from Dights Falls to • To form a central starting point for the Deep Rock picnic area. links to other popular Park areas and attractions. • To retain an obvious link with the 3B RIVER V IEW cultural heritage of the area, with its exotic vegetation, historic parkland Role: character and formal sports fields in • To provide an area of quiet access the treed setting. to the River flood plain. • To provide potential for special • To provide an example of basalt events in the historic setting. plains vegetation community readily available to visitors. Key Strategies: Environmental Management Key Strategies: • Create formalised river Environmental Management viewing/access point in the form of • Target environmental management timber decking to the river’s edge. to protect and enhance the limited Provide adequate signage to areas of high conservation encourage use. Link with pathway importance along the river bank.
22 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
to Loop road to ensure accessibility establishes a methodology for their for all. replacement over time. • Increase the density of riparian • Protect and maintain existing stone vegetation with selective walls and steps through the area. revegetation with predominantly • Develop interpretive signage upper canopy species. Include detailing the European and Koori some pockets of middle and lower history of the site. storey vegetation to maintain diversity in the riparian edge. • Continue weed control strategy for riparian zone, concentrating on Z ONE 4 woody species that affect the visual G OLF C OURSE quality of the “bushland” setting. M ANAGEMENT A REA • Protect bank revegetation area east of Kanes Bridge. 4G OLF C OURSE &
F ACILITIES Visitor Management • Improve car parking in the area Role: through subtle formalising of existing • To provide a quality 18 hole golf parking spaces. course and high quality associated • Improve parking for disabled facilities catering for golf course and visitors. general park users. • Upgrade picnic and barbecue • To provide a quality commercial facilities in the upper field area driving range as part of diversifying above Corben Oval, including recreation opportunity. addition of picnic tables, seating, • To provide a commercial focus on formal picnic shelters, barbecues the northern side of the river for and drinking fountains to the area. golfers and other Park users. • Rationalise the number of existing • To contribute to the habitat values of toilet blocks by removing the the Park, both along the River and western one and upgrading the within the course. Corben Oval toilet facilities. • Install drinking fountains at Key Strategies: appropriate sites throughout area. Environmental Management • Develop access and circulation • Increase the indigenous vegetation strategy for the Loop Road area along the river margin and within the that: golf course. . improves and formalises the • Continue pest plant and animal path system throughout the area control. to minimise environmental impact; and Visitor Management . accommodates access for The Yarra Bend Trust has entered into a people with disabilities to the agreement to develop the existing golf picnic areas and Kane’s Bridge. facilities with a Function Centre, • Retain Corben Oval for formal Restaurant, Kiosk, Pro shop and driving sporting activities and social range. The development will be matches. integrated into the Strategy Plan as follows: Cultural Heritage Management • As part of Golf Course • Maintain the Loop Road area as the Development, remove Long Oval primary site of exotic vegetation and its associated pavilion at the within the Park, reflecting the north end. cultural heritage of the area, as well • Liaise with Golf Course developer to as the formal and traditional ensure function centre parking does parkland character these plantings not impinge on Loop Road Area create. picnickers. • Develop a specific cultural heritage • Build on the popularity of the Golf plant management strategy for the Course to attract new golfers by area that addresses the inevitable decline of the existing plantings and
23 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
marketing the new development as environmental importance of the a key tourist focus with: varying areas, focussing on: . improved pro-shop and golf . mature Boneseed stands; facilities; . large infestations of Serrated . commercial function facilities; Tussock. and • Provide signage to encourage . commercial driving range. responsible trail use in the area. • Develop a strategy to encourage an increase in mid-week patronage. Visitor Management • Develop appropriate ‘Front Door’ for the Park with entry and directional Cultural Heritage Management signage at the Chandler Highway • Develop a heritage landscape and and Boulevard intersection, tree replacement strategy for the including improved “lead up” historical Asylum period landscape signage. elements. • Investigate the potential for Trig • Perform repair works to reverse Point to act as a low key visitor deterioration to the architecturally viewing point, with a safe road notable Yarra Bend Golf Course crossing point on the southern Club House (on the Register of the straight section of road and low key National Estate, and classified by steps and pathways to the Point the National Trust). from that side. • Discourage pedestrian access to Trig Point at the Boulevard bend. • Clearly identify access to Fairfield ONE Z 5 Boathouse from the Trig Point area, T RIG P OINT with appropriate signage (in M ANAGEMENT A REA association with the City of Yarra). • Develop signage on Main Yarra Trail 5A WURUNDJERI S PUR – to Fairfield Boathouse (in T RIG P OINT association with the City of Yarra). • Formalise kerbside car parking Role: adjacent to the path to the Pipe • To be a high quality entry point and Bridge to open up pedestrian access introduction to park from the north- to Fairfield Park and Boathouse east. from the east. • • To provide a passive, low key area Provide enhanced landscape and with trails to Trig Point viewing area, visitor amenities (seating and an experience of the river and drinking fountain) at the viewing peaceful recreation opportunities. point on the Wurundjeri Spur side of • To provide a link to Fairfield Park the Boulevard. from the east. • To contribute to the habitat values of Cultural Heritage Management • the Park, with environmental Develop low key interpretive management particularly signage installation at Trig Point concentrating on the Yarra fauna lookout, describing the importance corridor. of the Trig Point, as well as the various views and vistas available Key Strategies: from the area. • Environmental Management Develop interpretive signage at the • Revegetate the high use area near Pipe Bridge (in association with City the Pipe Bridge access point, and of Yarra), highlight the past and the informal tracks along the present importance of the pipe riverbank to Chandler Highway bridge. Bridge. • Continue revegetation concentrating on upper and middle storey species. • Implement weed control commensurate with the
24 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Z ONE 6 • Control weeds in the zone, W ILLSMERE concentrating on woody species that affect the visual qualities of the M ANAGEMENT A REA woodland.
6A HAIRPIN B END Visitor Management • Install signage to the low key trail Role: through the upper eastern portion of • To provide continuity in the Yarra the zone to encourage use and riparian flora and fauna corridor. linking to the other trail networks of • To accommodate passive low level the park. recreational use. • Provide seating at strategic points along the trails to take advantage of Key Strategies: the exceptional views. Environmental Management • Promote the trail between the • Revegetate the cleared (and thin Willsmere and Bellbird areas. areas) with upper storey vegetation. • Revegetate erosion areas within the zone, using middle and upper storey 6C BELLBIRD species. • Continue weed control strategy Role: concentrating on species affecting • To provide a low intensity picnic and biodiversity. barbecue area in a bushland setting. • Remove the remaining vestiges of • To provide a major point of contact the former carpark off the Boulevard with river, particularly for water and revegetate with upper storey based activities. species. • To form part of the Yarra riparian flora and fauna corridor. Visitor Management • Maintain the current low use trail Key Strategies: along the river margin. Environmental Management • Encourage visitors keeping to the • Implement extensive revegetation of trail by surfacing it with crushed rock the open area of Bellbird, creating a or mulch as appropriate to the woodland character with areas of location, grade and soil stability. seclusion as well as open gathering areas for larger groups. • Harden the riverside walking trail 6B WILLS S TREET / with gravel and/or mulch surfacing W ILLSMERE P RECINCT as appropriate to the level of use. • Control weeds in the zone, Role: concentrating on those that affect • To provide a local park facility on the biodiversity in the areas of edge of the Park to reduce pressure vegetation in good condition, and on on more sensitive environmental woody species that affect the visual areas closer to the River. quality of the area in other locations. • To provide a low intensity bushland walking experience. Visitor Management • To contribute to the bushland • Reinforce canoe/craft launching character of the Boulevard tourist facilities at the site with signposting. route. • Promote use of the area by canoe clubs and the like. Key Strategies: • Investigate with Vicroads the Environmental Management opportunities to re-configure the • Reinforce, through revegetation, an entrance and exits to Bellbird to open woodland character in the area maximise traffic visibility and safety, above the Boulevard to form a visual including the provision of a right turn and physical buffer to Willsmere. lane for traffic entering from the Revegetation to consist of north. indigenous upper storey species, with exotic lower storey species.
25 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
• Install more seating throughout • In liaison with the leasee on the site, Bellbird Picnic Area with views to the develop a marketing plan for Studley river. Park focussing on local, national • Establish directional signage within and international visitors. the area. • Develop simple loop trail around the Cultural Heritage Management Bellbird area and identify links to • Adopt 1992 Conservation Analysis longer walks along the River. and Plan (Lewis/Aitken) recommendations as the basis for the conservation actions for the Studley Park Boathouse. Z ONE 7 • Maintain Kanes Bridge in functioning S TUDLEY P ARK condition, to current appearance. M ANAGEMENT A REA
7A STUDLEY P ARK B OATHOUSE P RECINCT
Role: • To continue to be the historic focus and heart of park, providing a destination for tourists, an introduction to the Park and interpretive information. • To provide for socialising recreation at a restaurant/kiosk close to the river in a bushland setting. • To provide for picnic and barbecue passive recreational opportunities. • To be the focus of commercial water 7B STUDLEY P ARK L OWER based activities. B USHLAND • To contribute to the Yarra flora and fauna corridor. Role: • To provide an environmental Key Strategies: “example” for visitors (tourists) Environmental Management supporting the “bush in the city” • Manage the existing indigenous and experience. exotic vegetation to accommodate • To provide a contrasting visitor the high intensity visitor usage. experience adjacent to the more • Revegetate as necessary with upper intensive Boathouse precinct. and middle storey species to reinforce the site’s bushland Key Strategies: character. Environmental Management • Address the weed control and • Harden the primary trails through erosion issues along the river bank the area with gravel and/or mulch by implementing revegetation and surfaces to reduce erosion damage. directing and controlling visitor • Close and revegetate the minor access to specifically reinforced (eg. trails through the area. decked) locations. • Close off and revegetate erosion areas. Visitor Management • Control spread of weed species • Further develop the park information affecting biodiversity, such as centre to act as the main information Wandering Jew, Angled Onion and source on Yarra Bend Park. Ivy. Promote it as the directional information centre for the Park with Visitor Management clear directions to the various loop • Clearly sign the trail connections to trails available from the site. Studley Park Boathouse precinct, as
26 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
well as the wider trail network in the Key Strategies: area. Environmental Management • Develop interpretive signage and • Undertake an environmental risk other material on the important assessment to determine the environmental features of this area optimum location for an elevated of the park. viewing point in the centre of the • Encourage access along the Loop Road. Boulevard to Bellbird and close off • Develop and manage the viewing steep trail down the escarpment. point to minimise impact on this area of important vegetation. • Maintain and continue the recent 7C STUDLEY P ARK U PPER revegetation programs carried out at B USHLAND Galatea Point and Studley Point. • Continue weed control concentrating Role: on species affecting biodiversity in • To provide a high quality visual entry the area. point and introduction to Park from east. Visitor Management • To form part of the Park’s • To increase public use of the area, environmental resource for habitat develop seating facilities at key provision. locations. • Improve signage to viewing areas. Key Strategies: • Improve the landscape setting Environmental Management around the historic marker. • Remove the existing buildings and • Encourage use of the Loop Road for exotic species on site and cycling events and promote these revegetate the area to open throughout the Park as spectator bushland (with indigenous species). events. • Manage the area of good quality • Formalise the trail from the Loop vegetation to protect its diversity. Road to Dights Falls. • Control weed species through the • Improve the entrance to Galatea area, concentrating on species Point. threatening the biodiversity of the • Develop a loop walk around Studley area. Point, providing low key seating in good viewing locations. Visitor Management • Improve the trail connections to Cultural Heritage Management Studley Park Boathouse and • Continue to preserve ruins of the investigate creating a safe crossing pumping station. point on the Boulevard. • Add to interpretive information about • Sign the area to create Park the site’s history, including the awareness by Studley Park Road pumping station. users. • Retain pumping station related surviving landform and access track. • Conserve the remnant earlier 7D STUDLEY P OINT L OOP Johnson Street Bridge bluestone R OAD abutment, and retain landform of eastern approach road cutting and Role: alignment. • To form part of the Park’s • Provide interpretive information environmental resource for habitat about Bridge history (along with provision. other river crossings). • To provide a high quality viewing • Conserve Explorers Memorial Cairn, point facilitating exceptional views and provide interpretive information over the Park and to the City. about related historical events. • To provide low intensity access to Dights Falls and the Yarra’s edge.
27 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
Z ONE 8 L OWER Y ARRA M ANAGEMENT 8B ANDREWS R ESERVE A REA Role: • 8A PAR 3 GOLF C OURSE, To provide a recreation node on the S TUDLEY P ARK Yarra Trail. • R ECEPTIONS & NORRIS To provide improved recreational opportunities for residents of the R ESERVE dense urban areas to the south and
south-west. Role: • To continue to provide a local park • To contribute to the diversity of function. recreational opportunities in the
Park including: Key Strategies: - Par 3 Golf Course Environmental Management - Commercial development. • Maintain the exotic vegetation • To provide a main entry point to the character of the main park area Park and tourist access to the north of Collins Bridge. Boulevard. • Continue weed control in the zone, with emphasis on the extensive Key Strategies: Environmental Management woody species including Elms and • other exotic trees. As senescence of existing exotic • vegetation occurs, revegetate Norris Close and revegetate existing Reserve with Yellow Gum Woodland eroded tracks. species so that it reinforces the overall landscape character of the Visitor Management • Park to travellers on Studley Park Develop picnic facilities at the Road. reserve, suitable for moderate sized • Close and revegetate the trails and groups. • erosion areas on the escarpment Subject to investigations as to the below the Boulevard. feasibility of developing toilet • Reinforce bushland vegetation facilities above the flood plain at around the sloping banks of Collins Andrews Reserve: Oval. . develop barbecue facilities; and . investigate the potential to Visitor Management develop a small carpark off the • Boulevard. Provide clear signage on Studley • Park Road at Walmer Street to Through the addition of signage and formalise this as an important Park improved path layout, encourage entry point. visitors who use Collins oval to cross the Boulevard on the straighter • Upgrade the upper car park to a section to the south-east. higher standard. • Install facilities for dog owners to • Support the redevelopment of the remove droppings from the Park. Café and promote the development • of further associated and compatible Encourage the City of Yarra to commercial uses on the adjacent regularly monitor the safety of Arthur Rylah Oval or fish hatchery Collins Bridge. • sites to add to the range of Install drinking fountains at recreation opportunities in the Park. appropriate sites adjacent to the Main Yarra Trail. • Prepare a plan for the long term • upgrading of the Par 3 golf course Provide bicycle parking facilities which ensures its viability over the adjacent to the Main Yarra Trail. • next ten years. Appropriately sign the Park as a rest • Promote the Collins Oval area as a stop along the Trail. • Dogs off Lead site for the southern Provide signage to river access end of the Park. ramp. • Provide park information shelter.
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• Work with the City of Yarra to Key Strategies: improve the aesthetic quality of the Environmental Management Collins Bridge entry to the Park. • Work with Vicroads to increase the indigenous vegetation edge to the Boulevard. 8C DICKINSON R ESERVE Visitor Management Role: • Promote the Boulevard as a tourist • To form part of the Park’s drive through at a variety of tourist environmental resource for habitat information sources. provision. • Develop a signage strategy for the • To provide a local park facility. Boulevard to clarify parking • To be part of the Main Yarra Trail locations, viewing points and other connection through the Park. facilities. • To provide a quality entrance point • Create clear and visually strong to the Park from the south. entry points to the Boulevard at the northern and southern ends. Key Strategies: • Liaise with VicRoads regarding any Environmental Management proposals for the Boulevard which • Maintain and protect the high quality address improved safety for vegetation in this area. pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. • Continue weed control, • Explore the potential of the concentrating on the Hawthorn Boulevard as a venue for sporting infestations and species affecting events such as fun runs, cycling, biodiversity, such as Angled Onion. triathlons and biathlons. • Revegetate with upper storey species in weed eradication zones Cultural Heritage Management and areas of sparse indigenous • Encourage Vicroads to conserve the vegetation cover. structures associated with the • Formalise and rationalise the original Boulevard - including network of trails through the area. retaining walls and edging. Close and revegetate redundant • Provide interpretive information trails. about this depression era work- • Work with cyclists to encourage creation initiative. responsible Park use.
Visitor Management • Provide low key picnic facilities appropriate to the area’s local park role. • Encourage the responsible authorities to review the surfacing of the Walmer Street Bridge to ensure safety of cyclists and pedestrians.
Z ONE 9 T HE B OULEVARD
Role: • To provide a high quality scenic drive through inner Melbourne. • To form part of the Park’s tourist circulation route.
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5IMPLEMENTATION 5.3 PRIORITIES
Implementation of the Yarra Bend Park From the strategies and tasks set out in Strategy Plan has in some ways already this Plan, it is clear that a number of key begun, through the process of preparing areas must be addressed to achieve the the plan. The detailed implementation of high quality of Park envisaged for Yarra this Plan over its 5 year life will require Bend. In principle, the implementation clear priorities and phasing, as well as of this Strategy Plan will address the monitoring and assessment over time. following areas of need: • ensuring public safety and security within the Park; 5.1 MANAGEMENT • protecting and enhancing the R ESOURCES environmental diversity and values of the Park; The allocation of resources to the tasks • improving the quality and diversity of and strategies outlined in this Plan is the the visitor’s experience in the Park. domain of the Park Business Plan. This document will be prepared annually by From those principles, the strategies that Park Management and will address: will be given priority in the • financial management and priorities implementation of the Plan will be those for the coming year; that address: • allocation of recurrent and capital • implementation of the budgets in accordance with key recommendations contained in the strategies and priorities; Risk Management Assessment • applications for specific purpose prepared for the Park; grants; • implementation of the environmental • review of service contracts. management strategies, particularly in relation to the River and areas of high quality vegetation; • upgrading the existing services and 5.2 CONSULTATION AND facilities that provide the most C OORDINATION benefit to the greatest number of visitors; and then In addition to these important areas of • broadening or diversifying the Business Planning, the direction of recreation opportunities through the community involvement in the Park is implementation of new services and vital. This reflects not only the facilities. “ownership” benefits of community involvement but the reality of a situation of limited resources. 5.4 IMPLEMENTATION The Park will continue to support P HASES Friends Groups in their efforts to improve the environmental qualities of While the Park enjoys a reasonably the Park and direct those energies and consistent income level, this income involvements to support the priorities set leaves limited scope for the sort of out in this Strategy Plan. The Park will significant capital improvements and continue to consult and coordinate initiatives outlined in this Plan. Because works with the various other bodies with of the unpredictable availability of responsibility and/or interest in the Park, specific grants and other income including: sources, and the consequent effect on • City of Boroondara; the implementation time-line, phases of • City of Darebin; implementation are proposed as follows: • City of Yarra; • Melbourne Water; and Phase 1 • Merri Creek Management • Address risk management across Committee. the Park, implementing the priority initiatives of the Risk Evaluation and Assessment Report.
30 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
• Implement the environmental 5.5 MONITORING AND initiatives that concentrate on: R EVIEW . protection and enhancement of areas with highest environmental Regular monitoring and review of this values; Plan is fundamental to its success. . protecting and extending the Monitoring of the direction set by the riparian corridors; strategies and review of their . addressing the key threats to implementation allows the Plan to be a high quality environmental areas document that can react to changed and the environmental diversity of conditions and sometimes changing the Park, such as trail and bank needs. erosion, weed invasion etc. • Upgrading of the existing services To ensure the continuing relevance of and facilities to acceptable the Plan therefore, the following will standards, concentrating firstly in occur: the key visitor use areas before • An annual Business Plan will be broadening the upgrading to lesser prepared by Park Management that used portions of the Park. Such identifies: upgrading will include: . critical needs and priorities for .toilets; the coming year; . shelters; . a review of progress against . tracks; aims for the previous year; . signage; • An environmental assessment, . picnic facilities; based on the process established in . fencing; the Environmental Management . playgrounds. Plan. • Accommodation and support for the • Ongoing monitoring of visitor Golf Club redevelopment project numbers to allow control and which is an initiative that provides a direction of visitors to the various significant upgrade to facilities and designated parts of the Park. services to all Park users. • Regular visitor feedback on the Phase 2 performance of the Park through the Customer Satisfaction Monitor • Continue to implement surveys, together with a specific environmental management response to identified needs or initiatives. concerns within the Business Plan. • Continue (to completion) the • Regular feedback and review with upgrading of the existing visitor community and ‘friends’ groups facilities and services. involved in the Park. • Commence the Deep Rock family picnic area proposal, with early In addition to these procedures, it is works of plantings and simple picnic crucial that the Strategy Plan be facility additions. reviewed at the end of a 5 period to
ensure Park Management is best placed Phase 3 • to respond and adapt to changing needs Continue to implement and requirements environmentally, environmental management socially and economically. initiatives. • Complete the Deep Rock family picnic area with further facilities and the regional playground.
31 Yarra Bend Park STRATEGY PLAN
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Building Services Agency, Ex-NPS Toilet Facilities – Building Condition Assessment, August 1997.
Building Services Agency, Strategic Facility Assessment, August 1997.
Chris Dance Land Design & Fulcrum Town Planners, Yarra Bend Fairfield Area Development Opportunities, February 1997.
KPMG Management Consulting Pty Ltd, Melbourne Riverlands – Regional Tourism Development Plan Final Report, February, 1997.
Leigh and Orange Consultants, Proposed Golf Centre at Yarra Bend Golf Course for Mr Bruce Riley.
Marsh & McLennan, Yarra Bend Park Risk Management Report, July 1997.
Melbourne Parks and Waterways, Brimbank Park and Horseshoe Bend Farm Setting Plan, November, 1996.
Ministry for Planning and Environment, Lower Yarra River Concept Plan 1986.
Ministry for Planning and Environment, Middle Yarra River Concept Plan.
Parks Victoria, Yarra Bend Park Heritage Conservation Plan, Planning and Development Division, December 1998.
Parks Victoria, Yarra Bend Park, Environmental Management Plan, December, 1998.
Tourism Victoria, Strategic Business Plan 1997-2001 Building Partnerships.
Yarra Bend Park Trust, Yarra Bend Park Management Plan, 1990.
Yarra Bend Park Trust, Yarra Bend Park Progress Report, December 1996.
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