Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Master Plan - Shire of · PDF fileINTRODUCTION Wahgunyah...

WahgunyahRecreationReserveMasterPlan

PreparedbySimonLeisureConsultingDraftReport(August2011)

Indigo Shire Council Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Master Plan

Draft Report (V2).doc Page i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................11.1. Purpose and Use of a Master Plan............................................................................................................. 11.2. Acknowledgement ...................................................................................................................................... 2

2. CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................32.1. Wahgunyah Township ................................................................................................................................ 32.2. Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve................................................................................................................ 3

2.2.1. Sports Oval and Associated Facilities ...................................................................................................................42.2.2. Netball Courts........................................................................................................................................................42.2.3. Tennis Courts ........................................................................................................................................................52.2.4. Sports Pavilion ......................................................................................................................................................52.2.5. Other Areas / Facilities ..........................................................................................................................................62.2.6. Traffic Management ..............................................................................................................................................72.2.7. Wahgunyah Speedway .........................................................................................................................................7

2.3. Planning Reports and Strategies................................................................................................................ 82.3.1. Indigo Shire Recreation Plan (2008) .....................................................................................................................82.3.2. Draft Wahgunyah Foreshore Master Plan (2010) .................................................................................................92.3.3. Other References ..................................................................................................................................................9

3. CONSULTATION .............................................................................................................................104. ANALYSIS OF ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES ............................................................................125. WAHGUNYAH RESERVE PRECINCT MASTER PLAN.................................................................16

5.1. Plan Development .................................................................................................................................... 165.2. Key Directions of the Master Plan ............................................................................................................ 165.3. Cost Plan .................................................................................................................................................. 17

6. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................19

APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Inspection Report of the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Sports Field Appendix 2 – Sporting & Recreation Facilities Sustainability Assessment Report Appendix 3 – List of People of Groups Consulted Appendix 4 – RV Friendly Town Criterion and Dump Point Installation Information Appendix 5 – Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Master Plan


Draft Report (V2).doc Page 1

1. INTRODUCTION

Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve is the primary community open space area in Wahgunyah, an historic township of just over 800 people located in the north west of Indigo Shire, across the Murray River from the NSW town of Corowa. The reserve is located west of the main residential and commercial precincts of Wahgunyah, and is separated from these areas by Sunday Creek.

Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve1 is a Crown land reserve. A majority of the total land area of the reserve is open woodland, with an area of approximately 25% of the land area of the reserve set aside as a sporting and recreation precinct both in function and in use. The reserve comprises of one sports oval, four artificial surface tennis courts, two netball courts, a main sporting pavilion, a picnic / playground area, and a speedway track and associated buildings. The tenant sporting groups are the Wahgunyah Football Club, the Wahgunyah Netball Club, the Wahgunyah Tennis Club, and the Corowa Rutherglen Motorsports Inc. The Wahgunyah Cricket Club is also based at the reserve but is currently in recess.

The Indigo Shire Council has received a number of requests during the past few years from the tenant groups based at the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve to undertake a range of improvement projects to existing facilities and supporting infrastructure. In addition, the Indigo Shire Recreation Plan (2008) recommends that a master plan be prepared for the reserve, and the recently completed Draft Wahgunyah Foreshore Master Plan (2010) also identifies a number of improvement projects to the reserve and the immediate surrounds. It is timely, therefore, that a master plan be prepared for the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve that integrates the relevant directions outlined in these plans and which also incorporates additional projects identified by local residents and other stakeholder groups.

In December 2010, Indigo Shire Council engaged Simon Leisure Consulting, a sports and recreation planning firm, to prepare a master plan for Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve. The main aim of the master plan is to establish clear directions for the future use and development of the reserve, with a key element of the project being to assess the adequacy and capacity of the existing sporting and recreation facilities to continue to meet the needs of user groups and local residents both now and into the future. In addition, the master planning process considered options to make the reserve more accessible as a destination for non-sporting uses, such as recreational walking and cycling.

This report provides an overview of the study process, describes the key findings from the study, and outlines a new ‘Vision’ for the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve and its environs.

1.1. Purpose and Use of a Master Plan

A master plan determines a broad Vision for an area and outlines a number of projects and strategies that are required to be implemented for the new Vision to be achieved.

Please note that further investigation and feasibility of some of the recommended projects and initiatives described in the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Master Plan may be required depending upon their scale, likely impact and estimated cost. Further, the proposed projects described within the master plan do not commit the Indigo Shire Council or any other organisation to a responsibility for funding projects.

1 The gazetted name for the reserve is the Wahgunyah Racecourse & Recreation Reserve, however, throughout this report the reserve is referred to the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve, the name by which the reserve is now more commonly referred to by Council, tenant groups and local residents.



1.2. Acknowledgement

The preparation of the master plan has been the culmination of several stakeholder and community meetings held during the period December 2010 and June 2011. The input, feedback and overall contribution of the representatives of the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Committee, the reserve sporting groups, and other community groups in Wahgunyah is acknowledged, as well as the involvement of other residents.

The consultant team also thanks those Council staff and Councillors who provided valuable background information and guidance during the project, particularly the project manager, Chris Westwood (Council’s Team Leader Recreation & Community Strengthening).

The study was part funded by Sport and Recreation Victoria, and this contribution is acknowledged.



2. CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Master Plan was informed by a number of research and planning considerations. This section provides a summary of the key planning and contextual factors which were important to be assessed and considered during the preparation of the master plan.

2.1. Wahgunyah Township

Wahgunyah is located on the southern side of the Murray River from Corowa (NSW), and is approximately 9km north west of Rutherglen. It is situated within the Indigo Shire, some 270km north east of Melbourne.

Wahgunyah is the fourth largest town in the Shire behind Beechworth, Rutherglen and Chiltern, and in 2006 had a population of 809 people2. It has a slightly ‘older’ age profile compared to all of Indigo Shire with 77.1% of the population aged over 18 years (Shire: 74.4% and Victoria: 75.3%). A high 93.1% of residents are Australian born, compared to 86.6% in the Shire and 86.3% for all of Victoria.

The population of Wahgunyah is projected to grow by approximately 1,000 people by 2030, or more than double in size from its current size. New residential activity has already commenced in the southern area of the town between Traton Street and Distillery Road, however, it is expected that the dominant demographic of newcomers will be retirees.

These characteristics have implications for the direction of the master plan as an older aged community will ideally be seeking improved passive recreation opportunities, such as walking paths and passive parklands, and will not generate additional demand for active sporting opportunities. The high proportion of Australian born residents suggests that the typical Anglo sports of Australian football, cricket, netball and tennis will continue to be the dominant activities of choice of townspeople.

2.2. Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve

Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve is a Crown land reserve managed by a local committee, the Wahgunyah Racecourse & Recreation Reserve Committee of Management. The reserve was the site of a racecourse up until the late 1940’s, and reminders of this past use are still evident.

The reserve is 42 hectares and is zoned Public Conservation and Resource Zone. The site is subject to the following overlays:

• Land Subject to Inundation & Floodway Overlay.

• Wildfire Management Overlay.

The reserve is shown at right denoted by the area inside the red line.

2 Source: ABS Census 2006.



2.2.1. Sports Oval and Associated Facilities

The sports oval was established in 1956. It is approximately 165m long x 125m wide and has a synthetic centre wicket (covered at the time of inspection) and a perimeter post and pipe-rail fence that is in good condition.

Ground lighting is from six low-height poles, and the feedback from the Wahgunyah Football Club is that the lighting is poor quality for training purposes.

At the time of inspection, the surface of the sports field was good. The quality of the playing surface was independently assessed by the Vivesco Group (turf consultants) as part of this project, and was found to be generally satisfactory. The oval has a secure water supply from a bore.

(See Appendix 1 for the full inspection report by the Vivesco Group).

There is an elevated coaches box and timekeepers box on the western wing and a small scoreboard, all in good condition.

Currently, there is only one regular user of the sports field, the Wahgunyah Football Club, with infrequent use by local schools, including the Corowa High School. The Wahgunyah Cricket Club is currently in recess.

2.2.2. Netball Courts

There are two netball courts. The main court was recently installed and is full-size with a plexipave surface. Whilst it has been installed in an east-west direction (not the optimum orientation for netball courts), the sealed, court run-offs comply with the minimum 3.05m standard.

The condition of the court surface is excellent and the court lighting is satisfactory according to the netball club. There is good provision for covered courtside seating for the players.

The second court has an asphalt surface, however, it is in poor condition. It is also a full-size court but its run-offs do not comply with the required standard. The court lighting is poor and whilst there is good provision for courtside seating for the players along the western sideline, only a small proportion are covered.



2.2.3. Tennis Courts

There are four tennis courts, with the northern bank of two courts being plexipave surface and the southern bank being sand-filled grass. The condition of all courts is only average and none of the courts have floodlighting.

Whilst the distance of the run-offs for both banks of courts complies with current standards, the surface of the run-offs for the northern bank of courts is predominantly grass. The change in surface from plexipave to grass is not ideal.

There is no dedicated tennis clubroom facility, however, a small room and shelter on the western side of the southern bank of courts provides some amenity for players. There is a small hit-up wall behind this shelter.

2.2.4. Sports Pavilion

The sports pavilion services the football, netball and tennis clubs and is located on the east side of the sports field. The pavilion is comprised of two football change rooms and amenities, a small netball change/store area, a large social room, a canteen/kitchen area, separate bar, an office, and internal storage. The overall condition of the pavilion is good, however, the size of the away player change rooms and amenities, and of the netball change rooms and store area, are poor. These two areas form part of the original reserve pavilion building and do not provide facilities that are considered adequate for their current function and use.

In front of the pavilion is a 2 – 3m sealed, undercover spectator viewing area.

As part of the master planning project, Energy Return was engaged to undertake an environmental audit of the pavilion. The results of the audit show that the pavilion suffers from extensive air leakage, and addressing thermal performance would improve patron comfort and lower heating / cooling costs. Other areas of energy and water usage appear generally adequate.

(See Appendix 2 for the full assessment report by Energy Return).



2.2.5. Other Areas / Facilities

There is a combination playground and picnic shelter in the southern area of the sporting precinct, adjacent to the tennis courts. All are in excellent condition, however, the sand under-surface at the playground is not likely to be as effective as soft-fall mulch.

Two outdoor public toilet buildings are located at the eastern end of the main netball court. Both blocks are unroofed and their condition is considered spartan. The environmental audit by Energy Return identified that there are water leaks in both blocks.

There is a pedestrian bridge over Sunday Creek (the John Voss footbridge) that provides convenient access to the reserve for residents from the new housing estate, via Traton Street. The bridge is in excellent condition, however, there is no formed path between the bridge and the reserve.

The balance of the recreation reserve comprises of the Wahgunyah Speedway (see Section 2.2.7) and open woodland. There are sections of remnant vegetation that exist throughout the open woodland area, including mature Red Gums. No botanical or cultural heritage assessment of the vegetation was undertaken as it was beyond the scope of this project.

The open woodland area is currently agisted by the Reserve Committee for livestock grazing.



2.2.6. Traffic Management

The reserve is accessed via Blanche Street and Short Street, the latter being sealed only to the entrance of the recreation reserve. The unsealed reserve access road is wide, however, user groups report that it is unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists when competing with vehicles.

The main car parking area at the sports oval is north of the pavilion, between the reserve entry gates and the oval. The area is unsealed and during site visits it was clear that the car park is not being used in a way that maximises its efficiency. On match days cars also park nose-to-fence around the oval.

A post and chain fence prevents vehicles from entering the area immediately in front of the pavilion, which has the benefit of ensuring that this area remains vehicle-free.

2.2.7. Wahgunyah Speedway

The Wahgunyah Speedway area comprises of a 630m sand-clay banked racing track and associated support buildings. The track is not floodlit, however, the Corowa Rutherglen Motorsports Inc has recently had a planning application to install floodlights approved, and the Club expects this work to be completed by the end of 2011.

The judge’s building is a temporary two-story structure in good condition, and there are two sheds (a secretary’s office and a canteen) which are in fair condition. The public toilet block is functional but spartan.

The area surrounding the track includes a low-level spectator mound along the western side of the track, and the Pit area, which is a large unsealed area with gated access directly onto and off the track at two locations.



2.3. Planning Reports and Strategies

The following Council reports provide valuable background information relating to the reserve.

2.3.1. Indigo Shire Recreation Plan (2008)

In 2008, Indigo Shire Council developed and adopted a new municipal recreation plan that provides a framework for the strategic development of appropriate recreation infrastructure and facilities for the next 10 years. During the development of the plan, Shire residents and groups were consulted and most existing recreation and sporting facilities were audited to establish a Shire-wide inventory of available facilities.

The following principles adopted in the Recreation Plan are relevant for this master plan process:

• Council will provide infrastructure ……. to encourage participation in physical and social recreation activities.

• Council’s responsibility in recreation is to provide opportunities and choice, particularly where the private sector does not provide them.

• Council will seek to maximise the diversity of opportunities for leisure and recreation experiences that are available to residents by influencing the provision and nature of recreation and sporting facilities, open space and other leisure settings.

• Council will facilitate access to leisure and recreation services and settings by co-location, connectivity with community hubs and provision of off-road trails.

• Leisure and recreation settings should be designed to maximise the range of uses by the widest possible age range, without compromising their primary purpose.

• Council will seek to minimise the consumption of potable water and energy, and maximise opportunities to recycle and reuse water and energy in recreation facilities and infrastructure.

The following recommendations contained in the Recreation Plan relate directly to the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve:

1. Prepare a master plan for the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve, including assessment of the long-term sustainability of the speedway.

2. Develop shaded spectator areas for cricket and netball viewing.

3. Reorganise and upgrade car parking.

4. Install safety barriers around the track at Wahgunyah Speedway (completed).

5. Upgrade electrical supply and extend to the Wahgunyah Speedway (completed).

6. Work towards an overall reduction in the demand for potable water at sports grounds and recreation reserves.

7. Support developments at recreation reserves that promote sharing, maximise facility use, enhance sustainability and encourage greater community participation.



8. Continue to improve design and consistency of signage at recreation reserves and facilities and trail routes.

9. Expand the network of trails by developing additional circuits and perimeter pathways.

The above recommendations were considered during the preparation of the master plan.

2.3.2. Draft Wahgunyah Foreshore Master Plan (2010)

The Wahgunyah Foreshore Master Plan provides direction for the future upgrade and environmentally sensitive development of Wahgunyah foreshore and Lake Moodemere. The Plan’s preparation included consultation with Wahgunyah residents and community groups and investigated and assessed the current use and potential future use of the foreshore land.

The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve was included in the scope of the Plan, and the following recommendations relate directly to the reserve:

1. Improve the environmental and public amenity of the reserve and the speedway.

2. Provide a pedestrian trail connection loop through the reserve with connections to the John Voss footbridge and road reserve track connecting to Lake Moodemere.

3. Improve connectivity from town centre to the reserve for pedestrians and vehicles through appropriate way finding signage.

4. Improve the visual appeal and function of the reserve and speedway entries, including traffic management.

5. Complete the pedestrian trail along the reserve entry road (adjacent to Sunday Creek) from Blanche Street to the reserve.

The above recommendations were considered during the preparation of the master plan.

2.3.3. Other References

Other information sources and references reviewed and assessed as background material to inform the master plan were:

• Indigo Shire website.

• Indigo Shire Community Profile, i.d. consulting (2011)

• Wahgunyah–Corowa Trail Map, and other similar brochures describing existing and planned walking and cycling paths within the region.



3. CONSULTATION

A combination of meetings, interviews and site inspections were carried out with various stakeholders during the study, including local residents, user groups and Council staff. Some of the consultation was undertaken during the research phase of the study, whilst other meetings and interviews were designed to receive feedback on preliminary concept plans prepared for the reserve.

A chronological summary of the consultation undertaken is shown in the following table.

Date Method of Consultation Group / Stakeholder 21 December 2010 Meeting Project Control Group (Inception Meeting)

9 February 2011 Onsite review Reserve Committee President

22 February 2011 Meeting Wahgunyah RR Reserve Committee

Meeting Wahgunyah RR user groups

Meeting Council staff

Meeting Councillors & Executive Management Team

23 February 2011 Meeting / Workshop Wahgunyah residents

Onsite meeting Council’s Project Engineer (re: trails)

22 March 2011 Telephone interview Wahgunyah Progress Association

21 April 2011 Telephone interview Campervan & Motorhome Club of Aust. Ltd

28 April 2011 Workshop (present concept plan) Wahgunyah RR Reserve Committee and user groups

12 May 2009 Telephone interview Reserve Committee President

12 June 2011 Meeting Corowa Rutherglen Motorsports Inc

Jan – June 2011 Various emails and telephone discussions with relevant Council staff

A summary of the key outcomes from the consultation is provided in the following table.

(The representatives from each group consulted or who attended meetings are listed in Appendix 3).

Group Comments / Input Wahgunyah Racecourse & Recreation Reserve Committee of Management

Reserve entry gate needs widening to allow two-way traffic

A pedestrian and cycle path is required along the reserve access road to separate walkers and cyclists from vehicles

Playground and picnic area needs to be centralised to be more accessible and beneficial for the user groups

Reserve Committee supports the establishment of a public fitness gym

Power supply into the reserve was upgraded recently

Wahgunyah Cricket Club went into recess a couple of years ago, but are hopeful of reforming in coming years with the increased number of new families moving into town

Wahgunyah Football Club

Club has approximately 130 players and members, and are represented by 2 senior teams, 3 junior teams (U17, U14 & U12) and an Auskick program

Main use of the reserve is in winter for training (Tues & Thur) and matches, however, players access the gym in summer



Group Comments / Input Issues are poor quality training lights and the condition & size of the away change rooms

Other suggestions include the installation of a spectator shelter to allow people to watch the football and netball concurrently, to increase the undercover spectator area for football supporters, and the installation of a new ticket collection box at the reserve entry

Wahgunyah Netball Club

Club fluctuates between 50 – 60 players but this number has been stable in recent years. There are 5 teams - A & B grade (senior), U18, U15 & U13, and a Netta program

Club members train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and games on Saturdays are played in parallel with the football matches

The number of courts is adequate, however, the condition of one court is poor and its floodlights are also inadequate

The key issue for the club is the lack of netball change rooms

Wahgunyah Tennis Club

Club membership is approximately 60, and has increased in recent years. There are currently 6 teams representing the club

Club members use the courts on Wednesday evenings for training & coaching, whilst pennant competition is played on Saturday afternoons

There is little demand for additional courts, however, the Club would support dual-use courts for tennis / netball if the northern bank of tennis courts were replaced / upgraded

Tennis shelter is adequate for needs, however, the installation of a toilet would assist

Corowa Rutherglen Motorsports Inc

Club has approximately 70 members, of which about 20 are active

Club manages the Wahgunyah Speedway and hosts 6 race meetings per year, with club members’ use of the track generally occurring every second Sunday

Future installation of lights is not likely to increase the number of meetings but may attract more entries and spectators

Improvements for the speedway identified by the Club include extending the spectator bank on the west, planting out the east side with trees, constructing a scrutineer’s shed in the Pit area, and constructing a new canteen / administration / clubroom building.

Wahgunyah Community Meeting (3 attendees)

Suggestion that the reserve access road be formalised (seal)

Introduce additional trees to improve the landscape amenity of the reserve

Incorporate the history of the site as a former racecourse into its future development, e.g. through interpretive signage

Formalise the link between the John Voss footbridge and the reserve

Suggestion that the unused area just inside the reserve entrance be developed as a designated stop over for campervans and motorhomes

Councillors and Council staff

Vandalism and graffiti are known issues at the Speedway, as are theft and break-ins or forced entries at both the Speedway and the reserve pavilion

Poor netball change rooms – need to be extended and upgraded

Reserve access road needs to be sealed

Reserve’s northwestern boundary forms part of the Willows Reserve Trail (shared use trail). An opportunity exists to create a southern loop for this trail that could follow the alignment of the former racecourse around to the John Voss footbridge. This new loop could then become part of a proposed new trail to link the reserve to Lake Moodemere (this is consistent with the directions of the Wahgunyah Foreshore Master Plan report)

All of the above information was considered during the preparation of the master plan.



4. ANALYSIS OF ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The key issues and opportunities identified for the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve are discussed and assessed in the following table, with potential options on how the master planning process may respond to issues raised being noted.

Issue / Opportunity Options to Address Issues 4.1 Consider combining the tennis and

netball courts The asphalt netball court is in poor condition. Given that two courts are required to meet the training and competition demands of the club, the court needs to be either replaced or re-built.

An opportunity exists to combine the upgrade of this court with the upgrade of the two northern tennis courts. The two tennis courts are showing early signs of deteriorating (cracks) and the grass run-offs are not ideal for players (i.e. the change in surface) and add to the ongoing maintenance requirements. In addition, the current plexipave netball court (whilst relatively new) is orientated east-west – not the ideal orientation for players due to the rising and setting sun being in their eyes.

It is therefore recommended that in the long term and when the current plexipave netball court reaches the end of its useful life, that a new double court tennis-netball facility be constructed on the site of the two tennis courts and the asphalt netball court. Not only will the project deliver some economies but it will also provide two conforming netball and tennis courts to the respective clubs.

Another significant advantage for the tennis club will be that it will subsequently have access to two floodlit tennis courts. Currently, none of the courts have lights. This will not only benefit current tennis club members, but may open up the opportunity for other residents to play tennis, particularly those who are not available until early evening due to work or family commitments.

4.2 There is inadequate provision for netball change rooms and football away change rooms

The current provision for netball change is small and inadequate (no showers). Similarly, the adjoining change rooms and associated amenities for the away football teams are too small and in poor condition. Both areas are incorporated into the original pavilion building, which partly contributes to the issue.

An extension and upgrade to the pavilion needs to occur to address this problem. It is recommended that the away change area comprise of a ‘dry’ area of a minimum of 35sqm and 20sqm for the ‘wet’ area, whilst the combined netball change and amenities should be no less than 40sqm (could be provided as two separate change rooms or one larger change room to accommodate players of two clubs).

The football club could consider moving into the new change room, with its current change room then becoming the away team rooms. If this was to occur, there may need to be additional spaces included in the design for medical areas, storage, etc.

Any new upgrade and extension should allow for internal storage and should incorporate energy efficient fixtures and fittings.

4.3 There is a perceived lack of passive and community recreation facilities and spaces

The current location of the family recreation area at the southern end of the oval is removed from the main spectator areas for football and netball, and the main place of assembly for functions and events (around the pavilion).

The long-term proposal to build two tennis-netball courts creates the opportunity to remove the existing plexipave court and to re-



Issue / Opportunity Options to Address Issues use this space as a new family recreation area incorporating a playground, BBQ and picnic facilities.

Not only would the family recreation area be closer to the area where most activity at the reserve occurs, it will bring it adjacent to the public toilets and also closer to the reserve entry and car parking area which would benefit the one-off visitors to the reserve.

The proposed new location of the BBQ facilities would also be more advantageous for campervan and motorhome visitors (see 4.7 below).

Whist the new location will increase the distance of the playground from the township for those accessing the reserve via the John Voss footbridge, the additional distance is minimal compared to the total distance that residents will need to walk / ride, and the new location has more convenient access to the public toilets.

4.4 The reserve presents as a sporting area only, which offers very little to residents and visitors as a ‘park’ destination

The sporting areas are generally well used and highly valued.

By implementing the directions outlined in 4.3 above, the reserve will become more attractive as a destination for non-sporting users.

The proposed additional tree planting between the oval and the speedway will improve the landscape amenity of the reserve. The selection of tree species for additional planting should be sympathetic to the natural landscape and should be in accordance with Council’s directions.

In addition, forming the path network along the reserve entry road, through the reserve and then onto the John Voss footbridge will provide a circuit link with town centre that will likely become a popular walking or jogging circuit for residents and visitors.

The proposals outlined in the Wahgunyah Foreshore Master Plan report to form new paths within the reserve to supplement existing and proposed new paths in the surrounding area are generally supported in this master plan, particularly a new loop path to follow the alignment of the former racecourse and a path from the John Voss footbridge connecting it to the reserve access gate adjacent to the southern tennis courts. However, both of these paths would fall outside of the sporting precinct of the reserve, which is fenced, and into the area of the reserve which is currently being agisted for livestock. A risk assessment would need to be carried out by Council, the DSE (as landowner), and the Reserve Committee prior to the construction of the paths to assess whether there is a safety risk for people using the paths whilst the area is also used for cattle grazing. It should be noted that the income derived by the Reserve Committee from agisting the land is an important income source to help maintain the reserve, and the introduction of additional fencing across this open space to separate future trail users and cattle would likely negatively impact upon the landscape amenity.

The master has shown the suggested alignment of proposed new paths, and any new paths should make provisions for occasional seating and rest stops.

4.5 Traffic management at the reserve is not structured and potentially unsafe

The high volume of traffic accessing and leaving the reserve in winter (much of it in darkness) strengthens the case to not only seal the reserve access road to Short Street, but to also widen the entry gate. The latter can be done relatively easily by opening up the existing closed northern gate and formalising the road way.

The other associated project relating to the reserve access is to construct a separate walking/cycle path from the reserve entry back to Blanche Street. Consider utilising the bushland area



Issue / Opportunity Options to Address Issues adjacent to Sunday Creek for the alignment of the path to enhance the experience for walkers and cyclists. (Council’s Project Engineer has commenced preliminary assessment of this project)

This new path will not only provide a safer alternate access for children travelling to and from the reserve for training and matches, but will also provide an alternative (and more interesting) route for people using the section of the Willows Reserve Trail that runs from the reserve entry road to Blanche Street.

It is recommended that the car park area between the pavilion, the oval and the reserve entry be formalised to not only improve its efficiency but to also improve the safety of people walking in amongst vehicles. The car park does not need to be sealed, but can be formed through use of wooden sleepers and bumpers and the strategic placement of planter boxes/trees.

4.6 Wahgunyah Speedway can become a more sustainable facility

The Wahgunyah Speedway should be considered as a real asset for the town and the Shire - it brings a diverse sporting activity to the town/Shire and has the added advantage of being one a few sporting activities that can bring economic benefit to the services and supply businesses.

The Corowa Rutherglen Motorsports Club manages and operates the speedway facility, with little input and reliance on Council. Some minor additions and alterations to the facility will significantly improve the management arrangements at the track, allow the track to more efficiently cater for larger numbers of people, and further enhance the good reputation that the track has amongst competitors and with the sports governing body (affiliated with the Victorian Speedway Council).

Currently the Pit area and the public car parking are accessed through the same gate into the speedway facility. Separating the two entrances will reduce bottlenecks prior to meetings and enhance safety (the public are not permitted into the Pit area).

The Club does not currently have a permanent and secure canteen and clubroom facility. Both these uses are important for the continued prosperity of the Club, particularly with the imminent introduction of twilight and evening racing.

4.7 Suggested that the reserve could become a designated stop over for campervans and motorhomes

The Wahgunyah Progress Association suggested that an area at the reserve be set aside as a dedicated parking area for tourists travelling in campervans and motorhomes (or for Wahgunyah to become an ‘RV Friendly Town). The key target group are not casual and one-off holiday makers, but rather the large group of predominantly elderly people travelling as members of the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia Ltd (CMCA).

With 60,000 members, the CMCA is the largest motorhoming club in Australia and circulates to its members approved overnight stops, etc., of which the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve could become one. Members do not engage in long stays, are self-sufficient and typically pay up to $5 per night to the site managers (an honesty box is usually provided on site). In fact, one of the directions of the CMCA to its members, is to “leave only footprints”.

The likely benefits for the reserve are firstly, that it will be a new ‘user group’ at the reserve, secondly, the regular presence of overnight visitors will likely provide improved security for the reserve and its assets, and thirdly, the service will provide a small income source to the Reserve Committee (or other group assigned the responsibility of managing the service).



Issue / Opportunity Options to Address Issues There will also be a business benefit for some traders in town who would be the beneficiary of new / additional customers.

What is required to be an approved CMCA site? Enquiries to the CMCA identified that the minimum requirements are access to toilet facilities and water, with a desirable addition also being the provision of a dump point. A dump point station provides the appropriate facilities for black and grey water disposal in order to discourage indiscriminate waste disposal and the ensuing environmental problems.

An assessment of the feasibility of the reserve becoming a designated campervan stop-over identified that there is certainly the potential. The public toilets will need upgrading – but exist, and a suggested location for the campervan parking area is the unused area immediately inside the reserve entrance gate. Whilst a dump point would need to be installed (and there are funding subsidies available from the CMCA), there are definite advantages to the reserve as outlined above. The reserve will also provide travellers with direct access to BBQ and picnic facilities, and to a large network of walking and riding trails.

(See Appendix 4 for more information on the criterion for venues to become ‘RV Friendly Locations’ and information concerning the installation of dump points).

4.8 The reserve boundaries may need to be slightly redefined

Through the master planning process, it has become evident that some areas and infrastructure currently managed by the Reserve Committee may be located outside of the reserve boundary. The main areas where this appears to occur includes part of the car park north of the pavilion and the reserve access road between Short Street and the reserve entry – both of these are within the title boundary denoting the Sunday Creek corridor and not the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve.

This appears to be an anomaly and could be corrected through minor adjustments to the title boundaries being made by a surveyor and then approved by the Department of Sustainability & Environment. The work is recommended to be carried out as there will be implications for the Reserve Committee and/or Council when proposed works in these areas are to be carried out.



5. WAHGUNYAH RESERVE PRECINCT MASTER PLAN

5.1. Plan Development

The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Master Plan was developed through consideration and analysis of information collected during the study from the following sources:

• The outcomes and recommendations from the Indigo Shire Recreation Plan (2008) and the draft Wahgunyah Foreshore Master Plan (2010).

• The current and likely future demographic profile of Wahgunyah.

• Site analysis and research by the consultant team.

• Consultation with the Reserve Committee, the reserve user groups and with relevant Council staff.

• Assessment of various options and scenarios to improve and upgrade the reserve.

• Feedback from Council staff and other stakeholders on the preliminary concept master plan.

The key elements and directions identified in the Master Plan are described below, and should be read in conjunction with the illustrated Master Plan in Appendix 5.

5.2. Key Directions of the Master Plan

1. Upgrade the Sports Field and Surrounds − Install new floodlights to training standard (50 lux). − Convert the playing surface to warm season grasses (as per turf consultant report – see

Appendix 1). − Formalise the reserve car parking (unsealed) adjacent to the entry using a combination

of bollards and wooden bumpers.

2. Upgrade the Netball and Tennis Area − In the long-term, replace the two northern tennis courts and the existing asphalt netball

court with two new plexipave dual use tennis-netball courts, and include player shelters and floodlighting as required.

− Pending completion of the above project and when the plexipave court begins to fail, remove the main netball court and create a new family recreation hub comprising of a combination playground and BBQ / picnic area (consider relocating the existing playground equipment, shelter and picnic tables from the southern end of the oval).

− Install a spectator shelter between the oval and the new tennis / netball courts. − Upgrade the external public toilets by roofing them and re-fitting the internal fixtures. − Install a single uni-sex toilet either adjacent to or inside the tennis club shelter.

3. Extend and Upgrade the Sports Pavilion − Extend and upgrade the pavilion to incorporate new visitor change rooms and new

netball change rooms and storage. − Install a new spectator shelter between the pavilion and the oval.



4. Other Recreational Projects − Investigate the feasibility of formalising an area just inside the entrance to the sporting

precinct as a new dedicated parking area for campervans to attract new users to the reserve at non-peak use times.

− Construct an unsealed shared path between the reserve and Blanche Street alongside Sunday Creek to separate vehicles and pedestrians / cyclists.

− Construct an unsealed path between the sporting precinct and John Voss footbridge, and connect it to a new path to the various sporting areas and the proposed new playground and BBQ / picnic area adjacent to the pavilion.

− Change the soft-fall under the existing playground from sand to mulch. − Denote the alignment of the former racecourse by installing way finding bollards and

promote the trail as part of a broader trail network linking up with the Willows Reserve Trail (pending the outcome of a safety risk assessment if cattle grazing is to continue in the reserve).

− Install interpretive signs along the trail to tell the history of the site as a racecourse.

5. Improve the Traffic Management − Seal the reserve access road to Short Street. − Reconfigure the entry into the sporting precinct to allow two-way traffic.

6. Upgrade the Wahgunyah Speedway Precinct − Construct a new (unsealed) separate entry road into the Pit area off Short Street. − Construct a new shed in the Pit area for officials (car scrutineers). − Install floodlights. − Plant trees along the eastern side of the track to create a screen and to also ‘frame’ the

speedway track (tree selection to Council’s specification). − Construct a new permanent clubroom / canteen building.

7. Reserve Committee Support − Provide appropriate resources and assistance to the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve

Committee to enable them to implement the range of recommendations outlined in Appendix 1 to improve the quality of the oval’s playing surface and in Appendix 2 to achieve some environmental gains and efficiencies with the management of the sports pavilion.

5.3. Cost Plan

The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Master Plan recommends more than 30 separate but interconnected projects for the reserve. The total estimated cost for full implementation of the Master Plan is $XX (to be determined). (See table on the following page).

The practicality and order of implementation of all projects will be subject to a number of factors and criteria before proceeding, including:

• Availability of funding.

• Current and future priorities of Council.

• Stakeholder and community needs.

• Further investigation, research and consultation.



Important Notes:

• All capital cost estimates shown in the table are based on works being undertaken by professional contractors, and consultant fees associated with design development and administration have been averaged at 10% of construction costs.

• The cost estimates have been provided as indicative costs, based on similar projects undertaken in the past 18 months. No detailed plans have been prepared for any of the proposed upgrades, which are typically required to identify more accurate estimated costs from a Quantity Surveyor. Cost exclusions include:

− Construction contingencies. − Any costs / loss of income, which may be incurred by user groups or Council during

construction of improvement projects. − Goods and Services Tax (GST).

• It should be noted that some capacity might exist for cost savings during the implementation of the capital improvement program, by combining or packaging projects into larger contracts.

• The directions contained within the Master Plan do not commit Council or any other organisation to a responsibility for funding projects.

The Implementation Plan, including project prioritisation, assignment of responsibility and cost estimates will be inserted following the Public Exhibition period and feedback and review of the draft master plan by the community



6. CONCLUSION

The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve is the key sporting, recreation and social hub for the small but expanding Wahgunyah township. It has been timely for Council, with the cooperation and input of user groups, residents and other stakeholders, to establish a master plan for the reserve to enable a new vision to be established for the reserve.

The planning process undertaken during the study has enabled Council and the various stakeholder groups to jointly assess the adequacy of the existing sporting and recreational infrastructure to meet the ‘core’ needs of user groups, of local residents, and of visitors who may frequent the reserve and its surrounds for passive recreational pursuits.

The resultant master plan provides the framework to undertake future improvements at the reserve and recommends practical solutions to a number of existing constraints and issues that might otherwise impede the growth of some of the user groups as the township expands.

The progressive implementation of the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Master Plan will ensure that this important community space will be better utilised as a community sporting and recreation area for the ongoing benefit of the residents of Wahgunyah.


Draft Report (V2).doc Appendices

Appendix 1

Inspection Report of the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Sports Field

Vivesco Pty Ltd (Turf Consultants)



Inspection Report of the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Sports Field

Tim Sutcliffe, Director Vivesco Group

The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve sports field was inspected on Wednesday 9th February 2011 by Tim Sutcliffe, Director Vivesco Group (a turf management consultancy). The condition of the sports field and the current management practices were discussed with Darren Harvey (Corowa Golf Club) who oversees the maintenance of the sports field.

1.0 Condition of the ground

1. Turf composition

a. The sports field is dominated by large areas of kikuyu although there are also patches of common couch, various cool season grasses, seasonal grasses (such as summer grass) and paspalum

b. Minor weed problem with broadleaf weeds present throughout the sports field

2. Levelness of the surface

a. The sports field surface was visually assessed and there were no major concerns although there are some minor undulations throughout the surface

b. The cricket wicket area is slightly raised

3. Surface hardness

a. Surface hardness was not measured during the inspections

4. Surface stability and traction

a. Surface stability was not assessed using a recognised measuring device

b. Observation of the surface and physical testing of the surface by twisting feet and tugging on the turf indicated good surface stability

5. Surface consistency

a. Consistency involves several factors, including turf coverage, uniformity, health, levelness and stability

b. Observation of the sports field indicates potential for improvement in turf coverage and uniformity

6. Drainage

a. Drainage was not considered to be an issue due to the sandy soil profile

7. Irrigation

a. The turf area is covered by a recently installed irrigation system

b. The irrigation system was not observed operating during the inspections

c. Irrigation water is supplied by bore water



2.0 Current management and maintenance practices

The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve sports field surface is maintained by Darren Harvey of Corowa Golf Club and a number of dedicated volunteers.

2.1 Current maintenance practices are:

1. Mowing

a. A John Deere triplex cylinder mower is used to mow the sports field

b. The sports field is mown twice a week during the warmer months and fortnightly during the cooler months when the turf is less active

2. Fertilizing

a. The sports field has not been fertilized for some time due to a lack of funds

3. Weed control

a. No regular program of weed control is in place

b. A herbicide application to control broad leaf weeds was undertaken recently

4. Insect control

a. No regular control program is in place

b. An insecticide application to control locusts was undertaken recently

5. Disease control

a. No regular control program is in place

b. This has not been an issue in the past

6. Irrigation

a. Irrigation is kept to a minimum and performed on a ‘needs basis’

7. Surface repairs

a. Repairs are not generally required

8. Renovations

a. Turf slicing has been completed for the last three years

b. No other regular programs are in place



3.0 Review of sports field and maintenance practices

The Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve sports field is currently maintained by turf professionals, who volunteer their time, with minimal resources and limited equipment

This sports field has a number of turf species growing throughout the surface although large patches of kikuyu dominate the playing surface

Kikuyu turf is a warm season turf variety that is hard wearing, drought tolerant and recovers quickly from wear. It also has a network of creeping stems and rhizomes, which hold the surface together to provide a stable surface

Warm season grasses like kikuyu are the preferred turf species for sports fields in Victoria

The sports field is mown twice a week during the warmer months and fortnightly during the cooler months when the turf is less active. Kikuyu benefits from regular and consistent mowing so it is important that the current mowing program continues. Other than slicing, no other regular maintenance programs are in place

However, implementing regular maintenance programs can improve kikuyu coverage, eliminate weeds, prevent the possibility of the surface deteriorating and encourage drought tolerance

4.0 Recommendations

Vivesco Group recommends the documentation and implementation of a regular maintenance program and sound management practices. A small budget could also be set aside to facilitate the implementation of the maintenance program.

1. Turf selection

a. Kikuyu is an excellent turf variety for sports fields in the Indigo Shire due to its hard wearing, drought tolerant and recovery characteristics

b. We recommend that Kikuyu is encouraged on the Wahgunyah sports field as the preferred turf species as it already dominates the surface and provides a suitable turf playing surface

2. Maintenance practices

a. Regular mowing should be continued

b. Regular and consistent mowing at a height of 10 - 15mm is ideal for creating a thick, even playing surface

c. Regular mowing will also assist with the suppression of turf weeds that do not tolerate regular low mowing

3. Annual maintenance

a. The introduction of an annual maintenance program will assist in the creation of a consistent playing surface relating to turf grass uniformity, density and health with full kikuyu turf coverage that can better cope with intense use and extreme weather conditions



b. A minimum annual maintenance program should include:

i. Annual soil testing for soil nutrient requirements and the application of an appropriate slow release fertilizer

ii. September herbicide application to remove weeds that may compete with preferred kikuyu turf - herbicides such as Destiny® that control broad leaf weeds and cool season grasses but do not affect the kikuyu are preferred

iii. A follow-up herbicide application during summer to remove any persistent weeds and target specific species not controlled by previous application

iv. The Wahgunyah sports field has infestations of Paspalum grass. Paspalum is difficult to control on kikuyu sports fields using herbicides so it would have to be spot sprayed or physically removed. Paspalum control can then be incorporated into the annual maintenance program by using pre-emergent herbicides

c. Large areas that require kikuyu turf coverage can be planted with sprigs using the line planting or cultivation methods

i. These methods can be used for new sports fields, parklands or when large areas of existing sports fields require the establishment of a kikuyu surface

ii. This should only have to be performed once on the sports field before the areas are incorporated into annual maintenance schedules

iii. Areas for kikuyu planting are first identified

iv. Prior to planting it is important that weeds are eliminated (an application of a glyphosate herbicide can be used for large areas where no desirable turf is found and when reliable irrigation is available

v. Kikuyu turf sprigs are then planted into a moist, weed free soil surface using specially made turf planting equipment or cultivation machines such as a Harley Rake

vi. Sprigs are then fertilized and kept moist until established

vii. The application of a pre-emergent herbicide after planting is essential to prevent the invasion of weed species that can compete with the developing kikuyu

viii. Regular irrigation, fertilizing and weed control is required during the establishment period

ix. If planting is undertaken in September, full turf coverage can be achieved in 10 - 12 weeks

x. Cost of kikuyu sprig planting and establishment maintenance varies depending on the method used and area to be planted but can be about $5 per square metre



4. Even distribution of wear

a. Tenant clubs should be encouraged to vary the positions of their training drills to prevent excessive wear and protect the health of the turf

b. This will assist in maintaining strong turf coverage throughout the year

c. High use areas during game day need protection during the week to prevent excessive wear

d. Some wear distribution management strategies include:

i. preventing the football club from using areas in front of the coaches and interchange by roping it off during the week

ii. discouraging the football club from using the area in front of the pavilion for gathering or training to protect the turf

e. Although there will be times when the club ‘over-uses’ a particular part of the sports field which effects the turf coverage, it is important that this management strategy is promoted for the long-term benefit of the sports field

5. Auditing process

a. A formal auditing process can be used to maintain quality sports fields and provide opportunities to deal with any issues as they arise and before turf surfaces deteriorate to the point where expensive repair works are required

b. The auditing process could include:

i. a Match Day checklist for the football club to complete

ii. a regular (i.e. monthly) inspection

iii. an inspection and report from a turf professional (i.e. six monthly or yearly)

c. An audit of infrastructure (such as irrigation, mowers, etc) should be performed to ensure the on-going quality of equipment used for maintenance

iv. The quality of cut is determined by the quality of the mower so it is important that machinery is well maintained and upgraded if necessary

v. Irrigation infrastructure needs to be well maintained to ensure even coverage and reliability

vi. A plan and budget for equipment maintenance, upgrading and possibly sharing with other facilities should be established to ensure on-going quality sports field management



Appendix 2

Sporting & Recreation Facilities Sustainability Assessment Report Prepared by Energy Return (March 2011)

Please note that the following report from Energy Return includes the outcome of their assessment of the sports pavilion at Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve as well as three other recreation buildings located in Chiltern which were required for another master planning project.



Appendix 3

People and Groups Consulted

Council Staff

Name Position / Department David Koren Manager Community Planning

Chris Westwood Team Leader Recreation & Community Strengthening

Scott Landells Community Strengthening Project Officer

Dan Wilkinson Project Engineer

Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve User Groups

Name Position Organisation John Voss President Wahgunyah Racecourse & Recreation Reserve CoM

Ray Milne President Wahgunyah Football Club

Wes Canny Member Wahgunyah Football Club

Phil Turner Member Wahgunyah Football Club

Mareeta Corcoran Member Wahgunyah Netball Club

Kate Davie Member Wahgunyah Netball Club

Sharon Eales Member Wahgunyah Netball Club

Ken Woodstock Member Wahgunyah Tennis Club

Marita Way Member Wahgunyah Tennis Club

Rod Glare President Corowa Rutherglen Motorsports Inc

Other Stakeholders

Name Position Organisation Alan Pleitner Member Wahgunyah Progress Association

Debbie Ronneldt Member Wahgunyah Progress Association

Darren Harvey Curator Corowa Golf Club

Geoff Bartlett Health Promotion Officer Indigo North Health

Elizabeth Dallen Member Benefits Officer Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia Ltd



Appendix 4

RV Friendly Town Criterion and Dump Point Installation Information Fact Sheets sourced from the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia Ltd



Appendix 5

Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve Precinct Master Plan

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