Public Open Space Strategy 2026-2036

Let's Talk Parks!

Have your say on the places you play, walk, rest and explore.

Wellington Shire is developing a new Public Open Space Strategy to guide the planning, design, and management of our parks, reserves, and green spaces over the next 10 years and we want to hear from you.

Open spaces play a vital role in our community’s wellbeing. They support active lifestyles, connect us with nature, bring people together, and contribute to climate resilience. As our community grows and changes, it’s important that our open spaces meet the needs of everyone now and into the future.

Why the Strategy Matters

Our Public Open Space Strategy will:

• Provide a long-term vision for the open space network

• Identify gaps in access, diversity, and quality of open spaces

• Guide investment and upgrades to parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas

• Support environmental and cultural values

• Ensure our public spaces are welcoming, inclusive, and adaptable to climate change

We want your input to help us better understand how you use our open spaces and what improvements you’d like to see.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is public open space?

Public open space is all publicly owned land that is primarily set aside for recreation, leisure and nature conservation.
This includes public reserves, recreation reserves, parks, gardens, civic spaces (Cunninghame Street Mall) that are outdoors. In most instances, Wellington Shire manages the open space network for the purposes.

Other public spaces that complement the public open space network, but are not considered public open space includes streetscapes, public school grounds, rail trails, and drainage reserves/wetlands (Glenhaven).

What is a Public Open Space Strategy?

The Public Open Space Strategy will set the strategic framework for how our public open spaces will be planned, delivered and maintained across Wellington Shire Council.

As our publicly accessible open spaces are enjoyed by all in our community, it is therefore important for those that have interest in the outcome of the Public Open Space Strategy that their aspirations and need for these spaces are taken into consideration when developing a strategy.

Why do we need a Public Open Space Strategy?

Public open space plays a critical role in the health and wellbeing of our community, enhances township character, and supports biodiversity and a healthy environment.
To ensure equity across our townships, diversity of experiences, and to cater for future communities, Council needs to the Public Open Space Strategy to holistically and strategically plan for the current and future needs.

Wellington Shire Council's Public Open Space Strategy 2026-2036 will inform decisions, guide future provision, design and management of public open spaces for the next decade and beyond.

What are the key considerations that will be addressed by the Public Open Space Strategy?

The Public Open Space Strategy will guide the future supply, design and management of open spaces (new and existing) over the next 10 years.

The Strategy will examine the provision of existing publicly accessible open spaces, what the community values, and any issues that negatively impact the current use; it will identify the vision of where we need to be with our open space network to cater for population growth, new estates and creating liveable communities, social context and equitable provision, as well as addressing broader environmental opportunities.

How To Get Involved

We’re running a series of engagement activities to capture your views:

Community Survey

Tell us how you use public open space and what matters most to you.
Open until Friday 8 August 2025
Complete the Survey!

Open Space Activation and Use Map

Drop a pin on the map and share your feedback on specific parks and open spaces.
Link to Interactive Map!

Pop-up Events

Come speak with us in person at community events and local parks.
Be part of the conversation about the future of our open spaces.

📅 - Tuesday 8 July 2025 (10am-2pm) - Memorial Park, Yarram

📅 - Wednesday 9 July 2025 (10am-2pm) - Maffra Visitor Information Centre, Maffra

📅 - Thursday 10 July 2025 (10am-2pm) - Gippsland Centre, Sale

📅 - Friday 11 July 2025 (9am-12pm) - Gippsland Centre, Sale

📅 - Sunday 13 July 2025 (10am-12pm) - National Tree Planting Day Event, Gellion Street, Alberton

📅 - Tuesday 15 July 2025 (10am-2pm) - Prince Street Reserve, Rosedale

📅 - Thursday 16 July 2025 (10am-2pm) - Memorial Park, Stratford

📅 - Saturday 19 July 2025 (10am-12pm) - Lions Park BBQ Shelter, Loch Sport

📅 - Saturday 19 July 2025 (1pm-3pm) - Golden Beach Community Centre Reserve, Golden Beach

📅 - Sunday 20 July 2025 (11am-1pm) - Seaspray Foreshore Reserve BBQ Shelter, Seaspray

📅 - Thursday 24 July 2025 (10am-2pm) - Memorial Park, Yarram

📅 - Saturday 26 July 2025 (9am-2pm) - Gippsland Centre, Sale

📅 - Sunday 27 July 2025 (10am-12pm) - National Tree Planting Day Event, Flooding Creek, Sale

📅 - Tuesday 29 July 2025 (10am-1pm) - Apex Park, Heyfield

📅 - Wednesday 30 July 2025 (10am-2pm) - Maffra Visitor Information Centre, Maffra

📅 - Saturday 2 August 2025 (11am -1pm) - Rutter Park, Port Albert

What is next?

After we’ve finished speaking with the community and key stakeholders, looked at how our open spaces are currently used, and reviewed local population trends, we’ll pull everything together in an Issues and Opportunities Report. This report will outline what we’ve heard, what we currently have, and what the community wants for the future.

Using this, we’ll begin drafting the Public Open Space Strategy 2026–2036.

Once the draft is ready, we’ll check back in with the community and stakeholders to get more feedback.

To stay in the loop, share your email address and complete the short survey – we’ll make sure you’re kept up to date as the project progresses.