Wish list for Brooker Park

A master plan for future development of Brooker Park, Warragul has outlined a wish list of works totalling almost $718,000.

Following two rounds of community consultation, Baw Baw Shire has adopted the Brooker Park master plan and has referred the works and projects identified in the plan to its long term infrastructure plan for consideration.

The masterplan identified Brooker Park as an “important passive open space corridor” for the local community.

“It is mainly used for passive recreation and walking, running, cycling and dog walking.

“Due to the rapidly expanding residential areas to both sides and new subdivisions to the north end, the park is serving the community well,” the plan said.

Officers said the community would benefit from having an endorsed Brooker Park Master Plan as it would deliver the open space infrastructure to meet the community’s needs.

The master plan has identified 26 recommendations relating to infrastructure and recreation; environment and drainage; and management and policies. Some of the key works include:

A public toilet near the tennis courts and play space; a loop track along the western side of the creek; removal of the soccer field to create a fenced off dog off-leash area; additional barbecue area including picnic tables in the central section of the park; additional seats in shaded areas, drinking fountains and bins; interpretive signage and lighting and ongoing maintenance of the wetlands;

More indigenous native vegetation and additional deciduous trees at the existing barbecue area and entry from Charles St; and, more diverse aquatic habitats within the wetlands and creek.

Before adopting the master plan, council conducted two stages of community consultation, which highlighted the park as a well utilised and an appreciated area of open space.

The report to council said the objective of phase one consultation was to capture the community’s vision for the park, including infrastructure requirements, so a draft master plan could be developed.

Council received 88 responses via the online survey and 43 postal responses were received.

The community ‘drop in’ event in the park was attended by approximately 44 residents.

In the second stage, which sought feedback on the draft plan, 88 responses via the online survey and 18 postal responses were received.

The community ‘drop in’ event in the park was attended by approximately 50 residents.

Cr Mikaela Power said the consultation process had allowed people to have a chance to think about things and reconsider what they wanted to see developed.

“Some of the major users of the park had a say in how it could be developed. This is a good start.

“There were a lot of different ideas and some of them are very cost effective and can be achieved.

This master plan also allows us to plan for the larger tasks,” she said.

Cr Danny Goss said as Warragul had grown, so had the importance of this open space.

He said it was a comprehensive report that outlined a number of works including additional barbecues, seating, lighting, indigenous vegetation, improved management of trees and aquatic habitat.