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Have your say on the draft concept master plans for the Baw Baw Shire sporting reserves for Warragul and Drouin

Council is seeking community feedback on the Sporting Reserve Concept Masterplans for Drouin and Warragul.

By news@gippsland - 27th August 2021 - Back to News

The Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs) developed for Drouin and Warragul set out key infrastructure projects to support the increase in population across these growth areas. The PSPs identify five sites set aside for future sporting reserves across the two towns.

Council is inviting you to have your say on the sporting reserve draft concept masterplans to ensure the draft masterplans reflect the sporting needs within the Shire's growth areas

Ensuring the sporting needs

The five sites included in the draft master plans are:

• McGlone Sporting Reserve, Drouin
• Weebar Sporting Reserve, Drouin
• Dollarburn Sporting Reserve, Warragul
• Lillico Sporting Reserve, Warragul
• Spring Creek Sporting Reserve, Warragul

In ensuring the draft master plans reflect the sporting needs within the Shire's growth areas, Council undertook a demographic review over a 20-year timeframe, along with a sports demand analysis and literature review for 22 of the main sports that are currently played within Baw Baw Shire.

Providing insights

The draft master plans provide insight into what facilities are required at each site, the area of land required at each reserve, the level and/or hierarchy of facilities, complementary facilities (e.g. football and netball) and the logistics of how the sites may work in the future.

Meeting the diverse sporting needs

Mayor Cr Danny Goss said, "People often ask me if we make decisions that will have a long-term effect on the community? That's exactly what these draft concept plans are about. The decisions that are made after this public consultation will change Warragul and Drouin forever."

"It's important to note these are long term plans that outline the detailed works of what should happen within Warragul and Drouin, taking into consideration what facilities are best suited in each area, whether car parks are required, grandstands locations, the option of synthetic grounds etc. But the Council needs to acquire this land first. Through these draft master plans, we want to ensure we are meeting the diverse sporting needs of residents across our growing municipality".

Addressing demand for sporting

Cr Joe Gauci said, "Our previous PSP's envisaged our parks would have a football ground, soccer field, netball court and tennis courts all integrated within the one designated area. However, with the way our community sporting needs are developing and growing, based on the draft concepts put forward we may move towards creating areas that cater to the specific sports."

"This approach will allow us to develop regional facilities that can potentially host major events. While I think this is a great idea, the whole purpose of these draft concept master plans is to gather community feedback. I look forward to getting this document out in the community and hearing what they have to say." said Mr Gauci.

Cr Annemarie McCabe said, "This is a very extensive and informed document that essentially is forward planning to address the demand for sporting facilities of our communities as the population grows. The provision of sporting facilities allows for social connectedness, improved community health as well as economic benefits. I look forward to the community feedback on these draft concept master plans".

Have your say

The draft concept masterplans along with all supporting documents are available to view. Community members are invited to review and provide feedback on the proposed draft masterplans via the survey form found on Council's community engagement website. The Sporting Reserve Draft Concept Masterplans are currently open for public consultation until Thursday 7 October 2021.

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com