Council Minutes - 27 October 2009 - City of Greater Geelong

Greater Geelong City Council 27 October 2009
Minutes of Ordinary Meeting
SECTION B - REPORTS Page 23
4. QUEENS PARK MASTER PLAN (CONT’D)
Queens Park currently includes a range of active recreation facilities, including an 18-
hole golf course, playing fields, netball courts and golf driving range. The reserve has
also been home to the Geelong Highland Gathering for over 50 years. The Highland
Gathering has ‘Major Event’ status within Geelong’s calendar of events. The reserve is
also heavily used by the community for passive recreation including use of the Barwon
River trail for walking and cycling.
Aside from human uses of the reserve, Queens Park also includes environmental
significance through indigenous and introduced vegetation and is home to a range of
fauna, in particular a host of bird species.
The research and community consultation undertaken confirmed a number of
consistent issues that need to be addressed at the reserve. These include:
• water sustainability and water storage options;
• car parking (including lighting) and traffic management;
• poor condition of public facilities, including:
• public toilets,
• playground,
• rotunda, shade and shelter,
• park furniture – seating and tables,
• drinking taps;
• poor location of cricket nets – turf and concrete;
• pedestrian access and safety throughout the site;
• landscape character and atmosphere of the park;
• safety along the river path for shared use;
• the standard and location of facilities for netballers;
• tree management including safety,
• heritage/historical interpretation and replacement initiatives,
• options for interpretive signage and information; and
• conflicts between golfers and maintenance depot operations; and
• possible future redevelopment of the golf club house.
Six key planning principals have been identified to help guide development of the
Master Plan and to respond to the known issues. In summary the identified principals
include:
• Supporting the benefits of participation in formal sport and recreation,
• Supporting community development,
• Supporting multi-purpose facilities,
• Protecting and enhancing the environment and character of the park,
• Supporting sustainability, and