Golden Plains Shire Council has commenced the development of two key strategic documents: Open Space Strategy and Open Space Maintenance Strategy that will guide the planning, provision, management and investment in open space across the Shire, both now and into the future.
Public open space includes the parks, reserves, trails, sportsgrounds and natural areas that everyone can access and enjoy. These spaces provide places to play, connect, relax and experience nature, supporting health, wellbeing and sense of community.
This project aims to build a future-ready framework of open space that enables coordinated planning, prioritisation and investment across Council. It’s an opportunity to create a clear, consistent and realistic roadmap for public open space that reflects community needs and expectations.
The Open Space Strategy will address open space types and classifications, land use planning and growth, equity and accessibility and climate, health and social outcomes.
The Open Space Maintenance Strategy outlines how Council will manage and maintain open spaces. It will define service levels linked to classifications, provide clear guidance on cost, staff, equipment and delivery models and strengthen asset lifecycle processes and handovers.
Community members are invited to share their experiences, ideas and priorities to help shape the future of Golden Plains’ open space network and inform these new Strategies.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey says open space is essential to the liveability, health and wellbeing of our community.
Open spaces are where we connect with nature, celebrate culture, play sport, walk the dog, meet friends and build community. They also play a vital role in climate resilience, biodiversity, tourism, emergency management and public health, Cr Sharkey said.
We want to better understand what the community value about places and spaces, how they use them day-to-day and how they feel these spaces are performing, he said.
You are the experts in your community, and your feedback is essential to help ensure these Strategies reflect what matters most to the community. Together, we can create an open space network that truly reflects our people, places and future.
Feedback on the development of the Open Space Strategies is invited from Monday 3 November until 5pm, Friday 28 November 2025, and can be completed online at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations. Hard copies will also be available at Council’s Customer Hubs, 2 Pope Street, Bannockburn, and 19 Heales Street, Smythesdale.
Council will consider all submissions provided in the development of these Strategies.
For further information, contact Council at [email protected] or call 5220 7111.