Casey Equestrian Strategy September 2011 Reference Document Prepared for City of Casey Casey Equestrian Strategy - Reference Document September 2011 SGL.doc (VIC 11.2010) - 28 October 2011 Commercial in Confidence TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 BACKGROUND..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.1 Equestrian in Casey......................................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 Council’s Commitment to Equestrian Activities ......................................................... 2 1.2 PROJECT AIM ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................... 3 2 REVIEW OF 2001 EQUESTRIAN STRATEGY.................................................................................... 4 3 EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITY IN CASEY ................................................................................................ 4 3.1 COMMUMITY EQUESTRiaN ORGANISATION....................................................................... 5 3.2 PRIVATE EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES......................................................................................... 5 3.3 MAPPING OF EXISITNG EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE .......................... 6 3.3.1 Existing Equestrian Trails .................................................................................................. 6 3.3.2 Hierarchy of Equestrian Trails ......................................................................................... 6 3.3.3 Horse Riding on Roads.................................................................................................... 9 3.3.4 Existing Trail Network ..................................................................................................... 10 4 MARKET RESEARCH AND CONSULTATION ................................................................................ 13 4.1 HORSE AND PONY CLUB SURVEY...................................................................................... 13 4.1.1 Community Submissions ............................................................................................... 15 4.1.2 Internal Focus Group .................................................................................................... 15 4.1.3 Young People Focus Group......................................................................................... 16 4.1.4 Key Stakeholders ........................................................................................................... 17 4.1.5 Casey Equestrian Reference Committee (CERC).................................................... 18 4.1.6 Land Management Agencies..................................................................................... 18 4.2 SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES.................................................................................................. 19 4.2.1 Participation ...................................................................................................................19 4.2.2 Trails and Infrastructure................................................................................................. 20 4.2.3 Regional Equestrian Facility ......................................................................................... 20 4.2.4 Management and Operations ................................................................................... 20 4.2.5 Other................................................................................................................................ 20 5 DEMAND FOR EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES..................................................................................... 22 5.1 Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey ........................................................................... 22 5.2 Children’s Participation in Horse Riding Activities.......................................................... 22 5.3 Estimated Number of Horse Riders .................................................................................. 22 5.3.1 Registration Numbers with State Equestrian Bodies ................................................. 23 5.4 Summary............................................................................................................................ 25 6 EQUESTRIAN TRAILS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.............................................................................. 26 6.1 Horse Trail Riding Opportunities in casey ....................................................................... 26 6.2 benefits of trails ................................................................................................................. 27 6.2.1 Social Benefits ................................................................................................................ 27 6.2.2 Health Benefits ............................................................................................................... 27 6.2.3 Environmental Benefits ................................................................................................. 27 6.2.4 Economic Benefits......................................................................................................... 28 6.3 HORSE TRAIL DESIGN ......................................................................................................... 29 6.3.1 Safety............................................................................................................................... 29 6.3.2 Sustainability................................................................................................................... 29 Casey Equestrian Strategy - Reference Document September 2011 SGL.doc (VIC 11.2010) - 28 October 2011 Commercial in Confidence 6.3.3 Accessibility .................................................................................................................... 29 6.4 Trail Construction ..............................................................................................................30 6.5 Support Infrastructure ....................................................................................................... 31 6.5.2 Other facilities ................................................................................................................32 6.6 TRAIL USAGE ...................................................................................................................... 33 6.6.1 Code of Conduct.......................................................................................................... 34 6.6.2 Conflict between trail users ......................................................................................... 35 6.7 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUEs summary................................................................................... 35 6.8 Recommended Strategic Direction for equestrian Trail ................................................ 37 6.8.1 Safety for all current and potential users of the land, including horse riders....... 38 6.8.2 Managing Council’s Risk .............................................................................................. 38 6.8.3 Protection of Areas and Items of Environmental Significance from Damage and Degradation ................................................................................................................................... 38 6.8.4 Social and Recreation Needs and Priorities.............................................................. 38 6.8.5 Access and timing of resources .................................................................................. 39 6.8.6 Historic and Established Use of Land.......................................................................... 39 7 EQUESTRIAN FACILITY DEVELOPMENT AND MANANGEMENT ................................................. 40 7.1 Demand for equestrion faciliites...................................................................................... 40 7.2 community Equestrian facilities....................................................................................... 40 7.3 Key Strategic Direction..................................................................................................... 41 7.3.1 Cranbourne Racecourse ............................................................................................. 42 7.4 Development of a Regional Equestrian Centre.............................................................. 42 7.4.1 Equestrian Components............................................................................................... 43 7.4.2 Support Facilities ............................................................................................................ 43 8 STRATEGIC DIRECTION............................................................................................................... 45 8.1 principles ........................................................................................................................... 45 8.2 recommended Equestrian Opportunities in casey........................................................ 46 8.3 Principle 1 - Partnerships .................................................................................................. 47 8.4