September 2015
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Gleniffer Reserves Master Plan September 2015 Prepared by Fisher Design + Architecture in consultation with Mackenzie Pronk Architects | Jackie Amos Landscape Architect Caroline Desmond & Associates | Keiley Hunter Urban Planner Contents Chapter 1: Inception Chapter 4: Solutions, Strategies + Recommendations Overview 1 Earl Preston Reserve 19 Background 1 Timboon Road Connecting Trail 21 Executive Summary 2 Broken Bridge Reserve 24 Process 4 Arthur Keough Park 27 Objectives 4 Angel Gabriel Capararo Reserve 30 Principles 5 Design Precedent 32 Management 33 Chapter 2: Gathering + Interpretation Tourism 34 Community Engagement 6 Table: Management Directions & Recommendations 35 Cultural Meanings 8 Information and Education 36 Statutory Assessment 9 Signage 37 Chapter 3: Analysis Chapter 5: Implementation The Existing Condition of the Reserves 10 Table: Project Staging and Opinions of Probable Cost 41 - Earl Preston Reserve 13 - Timboon Road 14 Appendix 1: Community Consultation Report - Broken Bridge Reserve 15 - Arthur Keough Park 16 - Angel Gabriel Capararo Reserve 17 Chapter 1: Inception Gleniffer residents have reported Overview a large increase in visitation levels Background The Gleniffer Reserves are to a point where the environment In March 2014, Bellingen Brisbane situated along the Never and local quality of life are being Shire Council endorsed the Never River in the Bellingen significantly affected. Community Facilities & Open Space Infrastructure Section 94 Coffs Harbour Shire, approximately 10 The Gleniffer Valley is visited year Developer Contribution Plan kilometres northwest round, with peak periods during y 2014. This plan included funding w H the Christmas season, school c from the township of i f to establish a Master Plan and Dorrigo i c Bellingen, within one of holidays, and public holidays. a up to $221,000 for works and P Visitor numbers currently greatly Gleniffer the most scenically beautiful infrastructure at the Reserves. Armidale landscapes in Australia. exceed the sustainable use of the Reserve areas at peak periods. A Gleniffer Reserves Working W ater Neighbouring the world heritage Group was established to guide fa y Bellingen Council and local ll Wa Dorrigo National Park and Tuckers the development of the Master Bellingen residents have been caring for Nob State Forests, the Gleniffer Plan, including members from the Urunga the Reserves for many years by Reserves form part of a significant Gleniffer Community Association, maintaining the amenities and natural regional asset which is the Never Never Catchment restoring the environment. Now highly valued by local residents and Group (Landcare), the Bellingen however, the level of visitor use of Sydney PACIFIC the Bellingen community. Chamber of Commerce, and the OCEAN the Reserves is exceeding the local’s Bellingen Shire Council. The four reserves which are the capacity to care for them. There is subject of this Master Plan are: strong concern from residents that Bellingen Shire Council in the area is losing its ‘sense of place’. August 2014 contracted a multi- The Bellingen Shire - Location Plan • Earl Preston Reserve disciplinary consultant team • Arthur Keough Park The Gleniffer Reserves Master Plan comprising Fisher Design + • Broken Bridge Reserve aims to outline the visitation issues, Architecture, Mackenzie Pronk • Angel Gabriel Capararo Reserve and provide sustainable design and Architects, Jackie Amos (Landscape management solutions for visitation The Reserves have been enjoyed for Architect), Caroline Desmond during peak periods, guide site generations by local residents and (Community Engagement), usage, and address adverse visitor the Bellingen Shire community and Keiley Hunter (Planning as a recreational destination behaviour. Consultant) to work with the for swimming, picnics and The vision is in alignment with working group, stakeholders and BBQs, walking, and attending the Bellingen Shire Community the community to develop the events at the Gleniffer Hall and Vision 2030, and reflects our Gleniffer Reserves Master Plan. Community Church. communities creative spirit In recent years, promotion of and environmental values, with The Gleniffer Reserves have become an increasingly popular place of the Gleniffer Reserves by tourism sustainability being a key precept of organisations, social media, and word the Master Plan intent. recreation and swimming for locals and visitors. Visitation numbers and of mouth has resulted in the area visitor behaviour are at a point where the environment and local quality of becoming increasingly popular. life are being significantly affected. 1 Chapter 1. Inception | Gleniffer Reserves Master Plan | September 2015 With sustainability being a key In developing the Master Plan for With strong community concern strategies and recommendations public will increase awareness, Executive Summary- precept of the Master Plan intent, the Gleniffer Reserves, information over road safety and traffic proposed for the Gleniffer knowledge and understanding of Key Initiatives the vision for the Gleniffer Reserves on visitation numbers, visitor management issues within the Reserves: Design, Management and the Reserves’ natural and cultural Gleniffer area, establishment of a Communication. values. Providing guidelines In consultation with Bellingen reflects our communities creative behaviour, site usage, and traffic spirit and environmental values, has been anecdotal, based on Road and Traffic Management Plan for sustainable, responsible and Shire Council, stakeholders and the The Master Plan proposes aiming to preserve a sense of ‘place’ community observations. is recommended to be undertaken appropriate site usage will engender community, this Master Plan has sustainable design solutions through implementation of ideas by Council’s Traffic Management respect for the environment and been created for present and future It is recommended that further for the Reserves with a focus on and design solutions which are Committee, including a review for others. generations to provide a framework visitation sustainability study environmental conservation while meaningful and engaging. of signage, options for parking for a sustainable future for the be undertaken of the broader creating new contexts for everybody Education initiatives offer the regulation, speed limits and road Gleniffer Reserves over the next In early 2014, as a result of Gleniffer Valley area, including to engage with the ‘place’. opportunity to positively influence maintenance. decade. concern raised by the community, key State Forest recreational behaviour and attitudes within our It is recommended that a Gleniffer Bellingen Shire Council placed a destinations, to establish sustainable The Never Never Catchment own community, as well as from The document will also provide Stewardship Advisory Group moratorium on promotion of the site and road carrying capacities. Group (Landcare) has undertaken visitors from outside the Bellingen a resource for seeking further (GSAG) is established to guide Promised Land and the Gleniffer This may be undertaken by extensive work on restoration of the Shire. funding from other levels the implementation of the Master Area by official tourism bodies. Bellingen Shire Council working in environment of the Never Never of government, and provide Plan, provide advice to Council Proposed informative, regulatory With Council’s support there will partnership with Forestry NSW. River since 1995. The Master Plan recommendations for allocation of and steer ongoing commitment to and interpretive signage aims to be no future mass marketing of the provides continuity to previous Section 94 funding - $221,000 While this Master Plan aims to the protection, preservation and engage and to guide the public, Promised Land. conservation works, particularly for works and infrastructure at the address social and environmental sustainability of the Reserves. foster social and environmental Capararo’s Reserve, Broken Bridge Reserves. The Gleniffer Reserves Master issues relating with visitation and responsibility and pride, and assist Reserve, and Arthur Keough With an increasing need for greater Plan provides a framework for usage for the Gleniffer Reserves, a with enforcement of regulation. Being highly popular recreation Park. Council support an ongoing regulatory enforcement reported by regulation of the tourism industry framework for a sustainable future destinations, the Gleniffer Valley, partnership with the Never Never the Gleniffer community, Council Implementation of the Gleniffer and local businesses, which for the Gleniffer Reserves must the Gleniffer Reserves, and Catchment Group to continue has indicated support for additional Reserves Master Plan is proposed includes provision of information be considered within the broader adjacent State Forest areas have work in and around the Gleniffer ranger presence. Council will work to be staged over the next decade, to business and the community context of the Gleniffer Valley, been experiencing increasingly Reserves. jointly with Forestry NSW and and will require a commitment of about the significance and value surrounding State Forests, and the high levels of visitation and usage, police to develop a coordinated resources beyond the Section 94 of the Gleniffer Reserves, and Bellingen Shire. Improving and monitoring with visitor numbers exceeding site approach to enforcement, with funds that have been allocated to establishment of consistent, ecosystem health is a key priority capacities during