Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation - Victorian Environmental ...

Table 5.1
Public open space categories
CATEGORY/DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE VISITOR CATCHMENT
Protected area
These areas are set aside for the conservation and
protection of natural ecosystems, landscape character
and/or historical and scenic features. All are Crown land
and part of Victoria’s protected area system. They can
be used for some non-organised recreation and informal
activities, in accordance with management plans.
Natural and semi-natural area
These areas are vegetated and can range from remnants
of native vegetation through to revegetated and semilandscaped
areas.
This category includes areas managed for the conservation
of their natural and heritage values that are not included in
the protected area system.
It also includes long, relatively narrow, interconnected open
space areas which can provide visual buffers, movement
corridors for pedestrians, cyclists (where appropriate) and/
or flora and fauna.
Some Crown and public authority land may have a
resource use (e.g. state forests) or drainage function (e.g.
stream frontages).
Recreational uses vary, depending on how compatible
they are with the conservation values and other uses of the
area. In some areas (e.g. regional parks), recreation may be
the primary use.
Parkland and garden
These are generally landscaped areas that provide for a
range of non-organised recreation and informal activities.
Some parkland can have some natural values.
Organised recreation area
Areas primarily used for playing organised, often clubbased,
sport in an outdoor setting. Many areas also have
space for informal activities.
Services and utilities area
Areas used primarily for service delivery purposes that have
a secondary recreational use.
Civic square and promenade
Major hard-surfaced open areas and long, open areas
(often adjacent to rivers) used for non-organised recreation
and informal activities, such as community gatherings.
Recreation corridor
Off-road trails used for walking and cycling that link areas
of public open space.
National and state parks, nature
conservation reserves, natural
features reserves that are part
of the protected area system
(bushland areas, streamside
areas and scenic reserves)
Wetlands, stream frontages,
state forests, corridors located
along waterways, regional or
metropolitan parks, coastal
parks, coastal reserves, larger
local council parks
Open parkland, reservoir parks,
formal public gardens, pocket
parks and playgrounds
Sportsgrounds, bowling greens,
public golf courses and driving
ranges, tennis courts, netball
and basketball courts
Pipe tracks, retarding basins,
aqueducts and some power line
easements
Areas such as Federation Square
and Southbank promenade
Trails such as the metropolitan
trail network and rail trails
State
State/regional/ district/
local
Generally local, but
also regional/district
Regional/district/local
District/local
Regional/district/local
Regional/district/local
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