Community engagement for the Draft Moorabool River Reserve Masterplan (Draft Masterplan) was undertaken during November 2022 with a mail out survey, online survey, community meeting and a community walk at the Reserve.
Responses from community members provided information on the Reserve’s natural assets, key issues, preferred uses of the Reserve and recreational opportunities. A site walk with Wadawurrung representatives was also undertaken to investigate traditional custodian interests and opportunities regarding the future management of the Reserve.
The Draft Masterplan has been developed following the community engagement process, and Council will seek further community feedback from Wednesday 26 July to Wednesday 16 August before the Masterplan is finalised and presented at a Council meeting later this year.
Community meeting
Council organised a community meeting to discuss the Draft Masterplan at the Batesford Community Hall on Tuesday 8 August.
About
Council secured funding through the Victorian Government’s Barwon and Waterways of the West Grant Program to develop a Masterplan for the newly acquired Moorabool River Reserve in Batesford.
The Reserve encompasses 17 hectares of public open space along 2.5 kilometres of the Moorabool River at the Riverstone Estate in Batesford.
Rich in biodiversity and cultural significance, the Reserve provides habitat for native wildlife while providing valuable open space for the community and passive recreational opportunities.
Council’s Environment and Sustainability team has worked with stakeholders and the local community to develop the Draft Masterplan which guides the management and use of the Reserve into the future.
Why a Masterplan?
The Draft Masterplan considers the future uses and management of the Reserve to ensure that its natural and cultural values are protected.
It places the Reserve in the context of a rapidly expanding Geelong, the broader Moorabool River corridor and will investigate how the Reserve will link with and be used by the growing Batesford community. Therefore, it is important that the community has input into the Master Plan.
The development of the Moorabool River Reserve Masterplan is part of the larger Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto Langi-ut, previously known as the Barwon River Parklands Project.
What happens next?
Council sought community feedback from Wednesday 26 July to Wednesday 16 August. Thank you to everyone who contributed their thoughts and ideas.
Council officers will now review community feedback present the final Masterplan to Council at a meeting later this year.