Community celebrates official opening of Deep Creek Reserve, Pakenham

The official opening of Deep Creek Reserve invites all residents to learn about the new state-of-the-art space and will include a number of activities for the community to take part in, such as:  •    Cardinia Shire Council’s Waste team’s worm farm display •    Cardinia Environment Coalition pop-up stall  •    Face painting •    Native animal demonstration •    Royal Botanic Gardens bandicoot promotion.

A free sausage sizzle will also commence at 12pm and the Pakenham Golf Club will be operating the café throughout the day.

Deep Creek Reserve is set to be a place of environmental and recreational significance within the shire, and the location of one of the area’s best all-abilities play spaces.

The reserve now boasts the Deep Creek Environment Centre, a multi-user shared facility that will promote ecology, education and sport, and includes: •    all-abilities playground •    sand and water play area •    shelters and barbecues •    kick-about area •    new golf club rooms •    wetlands •    landscaping and sensory gardens •    indigenous plant nursery •    solar lighting, footpaths and car park.

Council has contributed $9.2 million to the Deep Creek Reserve project, with the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund contributing an additional $2.825 million. The indigenous plant nursery was part-funded by the Andrew’s Foundation with a contribution of $200,000.

The development has been a largescale collaborative effort between many departments across Council, various Victorian Government departments, multiple organisations, including the Pakenham Golf Club, Cardinia Environment Coalition and the Andrews Foundation, and the Cardinia Shire community.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Graeme Moore encouraged all residents to visit the new reserve, which will enable community members of all ages to meet, play, learn and play in the parklands.

“Council is thrilled to invite the community to the opening of Deep Creek Reserve, which is sure to become a must-visit destination in Cardinia Shire,” Cr Moore said.

“Not only will the facility provide employment and education opportunities for our community, and attract visitors to the regional size, all-abilities play space, but it will also work to demonstrate best practice in environmental sustainable design.

“The Deep Creek Environment Centre has a number of environmental features including a 40kW solar electricity system, recycled bricks, sustainably sourced timber, energy-efficient appliances and lighting, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and independent solar powered car park lighting.

“We’re also very excited to announce that the Cardinia Environment Coalition (CEC) has partnered with the Victorian Government to incorporate the science excellence centre, Ecolinc, at the site, which will enable schools to visit and learn about the natural environment.”

For more information about Deep Creek Reserve visit Council’s website at www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/deepcreekreserve or call 1300 787 624.