Release of the draft Masterplan for the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve

We are excited to release the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve draft Masterplan for community feedback.

We know the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve is much loved by the local community and visitors alike. The Reserve is a central hub in Apollo Bay and important to the town’s culture, playing host to a number of sports, community events and visitor accommodation.  

The draft Masterplan is a fantastic opportunity to work hand in hand to revamp and revitalise the incredible coastal reserve. It provides a framework for the balanced redevelopment of the Reserve’s established sporting and recreation facilities and campground, while improving cultural heritage protection, environmental outcomes and responding to the local impacts of climate change, including flood risk.

Importantly, the plan reflects community aspirations for the Reserve to be retained as a central hub for recreation, events, activities and general use by locals and visitors.

 

Highlights of the draft Masterplan:

• Improved community facilities such as a new pavilion and camp kitchen, an upgrade and repurpose of the Industrial Hall for community use, a new playground and increased open space with shaded areas, public BBQ, picnic tables and pathways. Importantly, the new facilities will be accessible to provide greater access for people of all abilities
• Improvements to existing sporting facilities including new football, netball, cricket and tennis clubrooms and changerooms, a new netball and tennis court area and an additional cricket practice net
• A shift to a seasonal campground in the southern part of the Reserve to enable the grassed area to be used by the local community and visitors between May and August
• Continuous public access along the entire Barham River foreshore and the potential for a viewing platform on the existing bridge
• A general uplift to accommodation facilities such as a camp kitchen, toilet blocks, amenity facilities, roads and car parking.

The draft Masterplan is intended to provide strategic direction to upgrades at the Reserve and will be utilised to advocate for the necessary funding required to deliver some significant elements such as the new sporting pavilion.

Together with the Colac Otway Shire Council, the draft Masterplan commits us to review the Reserve’s management model to achieve the best social, cultural, environmental and economic outcomes.

It has been released together with the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve Issues and Opportunities Paper. The Paper provides a valuable summary of insights gathered through extensive community and stakeholder engagement including pop ups, an online survey, site walks and discussions held with existing user groups, Council and Traditional Owners. The Paper also considers relevant legislation, strategies and technical advice that will influence the development of the Masterplan.

 Options for seasonal worker accommodation at the Reserve will be explored during the Masterplan’s implementation phase.

 

In line with principles of equitable access to Crown land caravan parks and following flood risk advice, annual permit sites will be discontinued and registered residents will be relocated within the Reserve by April 2024. We are working closely with the existing annual permit holders and registered residents to support the transition.

We are inviting Apollo Bay locals, visitors and key stakeholders to review the draft Masterplan and have their say on the future of the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve. A month-long community engagement throughout June and July includes an online survey, four in-person sessions held in Apollo Bay and an online information session. Feedback received will inform the final Masterplan for the Reserve.

Funding for the project includes $2m from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, $500,000 from a Visitor Experience Uplift Grant (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action) and $427,000 from the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.

Following engagement and finalisation of the Masterplan, the next step will be to utilise this funding to deliver a staged approach of the Masterplan.

Together, we want to create an incredible precinct that the community is proud of, and tourists aspire to visit.