Crown Recreation Reserve review incorporates community feedback

Community feedback was at the forefront of the Crown Recreation Reserve Master Plans 2024 review, which was adopted by Council at its meeting yesterday afternoon. 

The Crown Recreation Reserve Master Plans, previously known as the Rural Recreation Reserve Master Plans Stage 2, encompasses four local recreation reserves including Darnum, Longwarry, Thorpdale, and Willow Grove, each of which are owned by the Victorian Government, and managed by volunteer committees of management.  

The Crown Recreation Reserve Master Plans were developed to establish a clear direction for the future planning, provision and enhancement of community sport and infrastructure across these four key local recreation reserves in Baw Baw.  

Since the Plan was originally adopted by Council in 2016, more than $3 million worth of projects have been delivered across the four sites, including a new netball and umpires pavilion in Darnum, new oval lighting and an electronic scoreboard for Longwarry, new oval lighting and renewal of cricket nets at Thorpdale and a new netball and tennis pavilion at Willow Grove. 

Additionally, a further $1.5 million of projects are also in progress, including detailed designs of two pavilions at the Longwarry Recreation Reserve, and the redevelopment of the netball and tennis courts at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve. 

Targeted consultation was held with the specific sporting and community groups affiliated with these reserves in mid-2023, after which the Draft Review of the Master Plans was placed on public exhibition for broader community feedback. More than 40 submissions were received, and Council carefully considered the thoughts and ideas provided when finalising the updated document. 

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe said she was proud of the way volunteer committees managed these sites and how engaged local sporting clubs and the community were throughout the review process of these Master Plans.  

“Master Plans are a key planning and advocacy document for all stakeholders. They are essential for attracting grant funding to deliver the infrastructure our community needs and Council is committed to giving our residents, volunteers and sporting groups the chance to inform these documents” Cr McCabe said. 

This Plan is one of many recreational plans across the municipality and covers Crown owned and managed facilities.