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Baw Baw Council seeks community input for the future of Roberts Court Bushland Reserve Master Plan until 1 September 2025

Baw Baw Shire Council is inviting community input to shape a master plan for Drouin's ecologically significant Roberts Court Bushland Reserve, with consultation open until Monday 1 September 2025.

By news@gippsland - 4th August 2025 - Back to News

Council is seeking community input to develop a master plan to guide future development and use of Roberts Court Bushland Reserve in Drouin. The 10.53-hectare property was purchased by council in 2022 after it was identified as a high value environmental property with significant biodiversity values and potential for future activations and enhancements.

Baw Baw Shire Council is developing a Master Plan to protect nature, support wellbeing, honour country, and shape the reserve's future - have your say by 1 September 2025

Protecting precious habitat

The reserve features diverse natural habitat for local wildlife with species such as burrowing crayfish, lorikeets, rosellas, kookaburras, and many more calling the site home, as well as being home to a population of the nationally threatened Strzelecki Gum. The purchase was strongly supported by the community and Friends of Drouin's Trees.

Following successful acquisition of the property, council is now seeking to develop a master plan to guide the long-term future of the reserve that reflects both the ecological importance of the site and the community's aspirations for its future use, access and protection. A short survey is now available for community input, with consultation now open for a four-week period, closing on Monday 1 September 2025.

Have your say

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Danny Goss said this first phase of engagement seeks to understand the community's current values, ideas, concerns and aspirations for the reserve. "This reserve is a fantastic piece of land and a real asset to our community. Now it's time to plan how we can best make use of this area so we can enjoy it for many years to come."

"As always, our goal is to develop a plan for the reserve that is community-informed, inclusive, and grounded in local knowledge and aspirations. We welcome early input from everyone to capture all ideas and ambitions for this amazing bushland reserve," said Cr Goss.

For more information about this project and to provide your feedback, please visit council's engagement platform Baw Baw Connect. Early phase consultation feedback will be used to inform a draft master plan for the site with proposed actions, spatial layout and key themes aligned with the site's environmental values and community aspirations. The draft master plan will be again exhibited for community feedback in due course.

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com