1.0 Introduction 1.1 Study area and context Plenty Gorge Park is within the Traditional Lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Parks Victoria acknowledges the significance of the site for the Traditional Owners and supports their opportunity to express connection to Country. Plenty Gorge Park offers a wide range of natural, cultural, historic, and recreation experiences only 20 km from the Melbourne CBD (refer Figure 1). Located in South Morang, this regional park forms part of the Melbourne Metropolitan Park network. Out of the 1,350 Ha reserved land for the park, currently 1,250 Ha is secured in public ownership. The park has a strong north-south orientation and extends 11km along the Plenty River - from the northern boundary along Bridge Inn Road at Mernda to the southern boundary near the Metropolitan Ring Road at Bundoora and Greensborough. The suburbs around the park such as University Hill, Mill Park, South Morang, Mernda and Doreen have undergone rapid and significant urban growth in the last 10-20 years. Around 170,000 visitors per year visit the park for its spectacular landscape views, diverse picnic settings, recreational opportunities, cultural heritage features and native flora-fauna species. Whittlesea population 2017: 209,118 2036: 247,455 Growth 2017- 36: 66.15% Nillumbik population 2017: 62,872 2036: 67,304 Growth 2017- 36: 6.82% Plenty Gorge Park Darebin population 2017: 153,947 2036: 192,142 Growth 2017- 36: 24.81% Banyule population 2017: 130,145 2036: 148,095 Growth 2017- 36: 13.79%
1.2 Surrounding open space Plenty Gorge Park forms part of the existing network of metropolitan parks within Melbourne. This network supports and contributes significantly to Melbourne’s liveability. Metropolitan parks help meet the open space needs of growing communities in a manner distinct from council managed local and district parks, by providing leisure and recreation opportunities within large-scale, semi-natural landscape settings. Review of available open space surrounding the park (refer Figures 1 & 3) indicates that such resources are limited for the growing local communities. The majority of surrounding municipal open space is located west and north-east of Plenty Gorge Park, and largely consists of local and neighbourhood parks as part of recent subdivisions. East of Plenty Gorge Park the majority of land is in private ownership as part of larger subdivision blocks; therefore, public open space is minimal. The exception is the adjoining Yarrambat Park, which is a Council owned district open space. 1.3 Why is a master plan needed? Given the rapid urban growth around Plenty Gorge Park, there is increasing need for access to nature based experiences and quality open space for leisure and recreation. Updating the previous 1994 master plan for Plenty Gorge Park provides an opportunity to refresh the vision for the park to ensure it remains relevant in light of these urban changes. It also provides a framework for potential future partnerships and investment in the appropriate provision of facilities across the park. The master plan provides an implementation framework for priority works and programs required to bring the park up to an acceptable contemporary standard. The master plan will help inform Parks Victoria’s ‘Critical Built Assets Program’ which prioritises asset and facilities replacement and renewal across the state. In addition, the master plan identifies a number of minor works and changes to park activities and programs which can be implemented through ongoing partnerships, management and maintenance practices.
2.1.2 Visitor use and facilities Plenty Gorge Park provides numerous leisure and recreational opportunities for the local and broader Melbourne communities, for example: Plenty • Picnic areas and facilities including shelters, barbecues, public toilets and playgrounds. • Use of historical homesteads and associated farm buildings for restaurants, community use or visitor centres. • Open spaces for temporary community events, festivals and other larger group gatherings. • Walking and nature based activities, such as bird watching, nature appreciation and observing the local fauna. • Dog walking which is currently limited to select locations for dog on-lead only, in order to protect Mill Park Tanunda Wetlands Tanunda Wetlands Blue Lake Yellow Gum Recreation Area significant flora and fauna. • Trail running which attracts participants from all over Melbourne for organised competitions, generally in the southern section of the park. Bundoora • Orienteering utilising existing trails within the park. • Mountain bike riding, generally located in the southern section of the park (refer Figure 5). Around 50km of unauthorised mountain bike tracks have been constructed in the park’s south, resulting in significant impacts to the landscape and native vegetation. Collaboration with mountain bike groups should encourage riding on well-planned, marked and maintained trails while discouraging the creation of new tracks or close existing tracks of threat to high environmental and cultural value areas. Figure 5: Unauthorised mountain bike tracks in south of park The master plan aims to encourage active lifestyles in nature, whilst balancing sustainable visitor access and protecting conservation areas. This includes improving information and interpretation about the park’s values, encouraging park participation and stewardship, and involving the community in activities, events and
Site: Tanunda Wetlands Objective: Upgrade site as an entrance into Plenty Gorge Park from the south west, providing for low level passive recreation activity, park information, connection into the Plenty River Trail and protection of significant habitat areas. Refer to Figure 11, p.45. Visitor Experiences * Recommendations Priority TW01a Review and update the Tanunda Wetlands Development Plan (2000) as primarily a passive recreation area including: • access and parking • picnic areas • nature based play • viewing into wetlands and gorge • tracks for walking / jogging • serve as a trail head and connection to the Plenty River Trail High TW01b Implement the Tanunda Wetlands Development Plan. Medium TW02 Undertake planting program to edges of wetland area to moderate view to Wildlife Protection Fence, direct views to wetland and integrate residential interface with Plenty Gorge Park. Medium WPF Review the existing wildlife protection fence and gate locations, to allow suitable visitor access into significant areas of the park, whilst continuing to protect wildlife from attack by cats and dogs. Medium PRT4 Complete sections of the Plenty River Trail in accordance with the Plenty River Trail project documentation. High ENT4 Provide a new park entry for Tanunda precinct. Medium WAY Improve signage and wayfinding for park entry. High Site: Janefield South Objective: Maintain existing area and provide for low impact continuation of existing local activity and low-level bushwalking. Visitor Experiences Recommendations Priority JS01 Provide secondary loop trails from Plenty River Trail to provide local walking opportunity within existing woodland (in accordance with Plenty River Trail Project). Medium JS02a As per recommendation JN02, liaise with mountain bike groups to develop and implement a sustainable trail plan focused in Janefield North and minimise environmental and cultural impacts in Janefield South. High JS02b Implement trail plan and related facilities. High PRT5 Complete sections of the Plenty River Trail in accordance with the Plenty River Trail project documentation. High