Open space plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for residents and communities. It not only offers opportunities for recreational activities and social gatherings, but also contributes to the unique character of urban areas and enhances the visual appeal of streetscapes.

By providing these spaces, communities can enjoy a range of benefits that promote environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and economic prosperity.

Objective and scope

Council has engaged Emerge Associates to deliver the Open Space Strategy for East Gippsland. The aim of the Open Space Strategy is to establish a strategic vision and overarching long-term strategic direction to guide the future planning, development, provision, and management of open space within East Gippsland.

This will include the following steps:

• Background review - consultants will review all existing council reports/literature and draft an Open Space Strategy.
  
• Issues Paper - an Issues Paper will be prepared by the consultant and the internal Council working group.
• Community /Stakeholder Engagement - The Issues and Engagement Paper will be available for stakeholder and community feedback.
• Draft Open Space Strategy - a Draft Strategy will be prepared by the consultants, informed by community and stakeholder feedback
• Final Open Space Strategy - the final draft strategy will be released for final community feedback.

Consultation and community engagement

Council wishes to seek feedback and support for the draft directions which will help to shape the final strategy; a set of draft directions have been developed and were informed by extensive engagement over the past five years and in-depth research and analysis.

We welcome your participation in the survey and encourage you to view the Issues and Engagement Plan (under documents). This survey will be open until midnight on 1 April 2024; there will be further opportunity to have your say when the Draft Open Space Strategy is released for feedback.

A Project Reference Group will be formed to help shape the directions and support decisions; many integral groups will be involved, including East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA), Gippsland Ports, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

Funding

This project is funded by East Gippsland Shire Council.

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