PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLAN 2014-2024 Part 1 of 3 - Strategic Vision Wellington Shire Council 70 Foster Street Sale 3850 1300 366 244 [email protected] i Page left blank PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLAN 2014-2024 PART 1 ii CONTENTS PART 1 Strategic Vision .................................................................................................Page 1 About this document: ..................................................................................................... 1 2 Introduction:................................................................................................................... 1 3 Background.................................................................................................................... 2 4 Existing Open Space ..................................................................................................... 2 5 Public Open Space - Towards 2024............................................................................. 21 6 Play Space Management and Provision....................................................................... 26 7 Urban Forest Management .......................................................................................... 36 PART 2 Town Plans 8 Briagolong ..................................................................................................................... 4 9 Coongulla .................................................................................................................... 10 10 Cowwarr ...................................................................................................................... 17 11 Dargo........................................................................................................................... 20 12 Golden Beach/Paradise Beach .................................................................................... 23 13 Glenmaggie ................................................................................................................. 29 14 Gormandale................................................................................................................. 31 15 Heyfield........................................................................................................................ 33 16 Licola ........................................................................................................................... 38 17 Loch Sport ................................................................................................................... 40 18 Longford ...................................................................................................................... 49 19 Maffra .......................................................................................................................... 53 20 Manns Beach............................................................................................................... 63 21 McLoughlins Beach...................................................................................................... 65 22 Port Albert.................................................................................................................... 67 23 Rosedale ..................................................................................................................... 70 24 Sale ............................................................................................................................. 76 25 Seaspray ..................................................................................................................... 91 26 Stratford....................................................................................................................... 96 27 Yarram....................................................................................................................... 103 28 Woodside Beach........................................................................................................ 109 29 Other Towns/Localities .............................................................................................. 111 PART 3 Appendices 30 Appendix One – Council Plan 2013-17 Links to POS..................................................... 5 31 Appendix 2 - Planning Scheme Provisions..................................................................... 7 32 Appendix 3 - Supporting Demographic Analysis .......................................................... 10 33 Appendix 4 - Correlation Matrix of Township Age Profiles............................................ 17 34 Appendix 5 – Tree Valuation Method ........................................................................... 18 35 Appendix 6 – Tree Removal Requests for Private Good or Limited Public Good ......... 22 36 Appendix 7 – Tree Removal Evaluation ....................................................................... 24 37 Appendix 8 – Tree Roots Issue Guideline .................................................................... 25 38 Appendix 9 – Elm Leaf Beetle Guideline...................................................................... 27 39 Appendix 10 – Public Open Space Assessment Method.............................................. 30 PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLAN 2014-2024 PART 1 iii Page left blank PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLAN 2014-2024 PART 1 iv PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLAN 1 About this document: ThPARTe purpose ofONE document– is toStrategic Vision review existing (2014) Public Open Space (POS) provision and infrastructure across urban areas of Wellington Shire and provides individual town plans for the provision of POS until 2024. To align with the overall concept of creating vibrant urban centres where people choose to live the overall focus of the Open Space Plan (OSP) is on ‘liveability’, hence the management of play (play spaces) and the urban forest have been incorporated into this document. The document is in four parts: Part One addresses the strategic approach, broad demographics and methodological assumptions, this part focuses on a whole of shire analysis, in effect creating an overall vision of Wellington’s future POS Part Two covers the more detailed and specific Town Plans Part Three includes appendices and supporting information Part Four will be developed from the adopted OSP as a ‘works’ program, where specific maintenance and capital projects are summarised and time-lined, Part Four will inform recurrent needs and the capital works programs 2 Introduction: The value that urban POS provides to the community is a combination of social, economic and environmental factors. A principal role of POS is to support health, recreation and leisure functions including active pursuits, such as organised sports, exercise, children’s play and social activities; yet also encompassing passive uses such as quiet reflection in an attractive setting. Equally, POS is the key to creating attractive towns and neighbourhoods where people want to live and socialise. POS includes the urban forest. Sustainability and environmental conservation are also essential roles of public open space management, e.g., through habitat and biodiversity conservation and air and water quality management. It moreover provides a strong connection to nature for people living in urbanised environments. POS is also highly valued for its natural beauty, contribution to neighbourhood character and community identity, cultural and heritage values, tourism potential and the emotional connection people may attach to it. The Wellington Shire Council’s Open Space Plan provides a framework for the planning and management of the Shire’s POS network, including the urban forest and play spaces, it does however exclude sporting infrastructure. The plan defines how Wellington Shire Council will meet community needs and expectations for urban public open space now and until 2024 in terms of equity, liveability, vitality, sustainability, quality, flexibility, diversity, community health and well-being and efficient use of resources. WSC recognises that public open space is no longer just ‘nice to have’ but is essential for healthy communities. PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLAN 2014-2024 PART 1 1 3 Background Council developed an Open Space Strategy in 1999 and adopted it in 2000. Whilst this document was a significant step forward for the relatively new Wellington Shire and many of the recommendations have been undertaken, community aspirations have changed, as has the position of Council. Equally, the development of other Council strategic documents (e.g., Healthy Wellington, Physical Activity, Walking & Cycling, and Built Environment Strategy) have changed the need for a specific POS strategy and highlighted the need for a more outcome focussed asset management approach. A 2011 VicHealth survey identified that in Victoria between 50 and 80 percent of people visit a green space each week. Consultation at the local level generally illustrates community satisfaction with parks and reserves and a high value is placed on POS for the major contribution they make to local character, amenity and community vibrancy (liveability). The annual Community Satisfaction Survey constantly rates WSC presentation of open space highly with the 2014 survey giving a performance index score of 75 four points above comparable large rural shires and importance at 71 points (rating more highly with women than men 74 vs. 68). 4 Existing Open Space The Natural Environment and Parks business unit manages approximately 600 hectares of POS; it is difficult to provide an exact area value because open