Plan stops for shops

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
YARRA Ranges Council has had to postpone its estimated $1 million master plan for the Warburton Recreation Reserve until it holds community consultation with surrounding businesses.
In an awkward moment at last week’s council meeting (14 September), discussion papers wrongly stated that consultation had taken place with key stakeholders.
Those stakeholders told councillors that a consultation meeting had never taken place, and business considerations needed to be taken into account.
Councillors were concerned and said a meeting would take place in coming weeks.
The master plan was released for public comment in November 2009 after reserve tenants requested the improvement of the playing fields and amenities.
Warburton’s sporting clubs and scout group have a long affiliation with the reserve, and will benefit from the plan which includes the development of a netball court, cricket practice wickets, and extending the existing bowls green.
The plan includes the refurbishment of the football/cricket pavilion to upgrade the change rooms, incorporate a gymnasium, public toilets and kiosk and upgrade the signage to tracks for walking and cycling.
Warburton IGA owner Shane Wyles told the council meeting there hadn’t been consultation to combine the plan for the recreation area with the businesses.
“While we see a big car park at the back of the shops there has been no integration to move people to the business area in an efficient way,” he said.
Mr Wyles said the Warburton business owners adjacent to the reserve had put forward a number of ideas and wanted to communicate those to the planners.
“They almost treated it as a completely different zone,” he said.
Mr Wyles said the master plan didn’t take into consideration how people were to get from the car park to the businesses or the truck delivery movements that would affect the rear lane way which would become a thoroughfare.
“The only other issue is, taking away the front car park can’t be done until the new car park is done, otherwise it would be taking away 30 to 40 car parks,” he said.
Mr Wyles said the master plan was great for the community, and this oversight could now be rectified.
“The businesses support their local football and cricket clubs, and the more vibrant the community we have the better,” he said.
Councillors were concerned the meeting had not taken place, and said they were not in a position to adopt the master plan.
“We can’t ignore business interests – we have to consider these commercial people and their needs,” said Cr Noel Cliff.