Plans out for Masons Lane

By Lachlan Ellis

Council has unanimously approved a motion to put new plans for Mason’s Lane Reserve out for public exhibition, with both short-term and long-term improvements outlined.

The Draft Mason’s Lane Reserve Master Plan came before Council at the 7 September Ordinary Meeting, with Council officers recommending it be put out for public exhibition for a four-week period.

Within the report, it stated that “237 community surveys and 10 user group meetings” which have already been conducted, called for several improvements.

With 52 per cent of survey respondents saying they walk their dog at Mason’s Lane, unsurprisingly the top request for the Reserve was a dedicated off-leash area. Also highly requested were better shade, shelter and seating, public toilets, and more park lighting and car parking.

Of those surveyed, they said they feel the Reserve is “achieving its purpose well or very well”, while 32 per cent “feel okay about how well the Reserve is achieving its purpose”. Fifteen per cent reported feeling that the Reserve “is not achieving its purpose, performing poorly or very poorly”.

To address the needs of the community, the Draft Master Plan proposed in its short-term plan that improved athletics facilities, a community activity space, dog off leash area, new entrances and connections, and new trees and landscaping be established.

Long-term, the Draft Master Plan suggests a new centralised community sporting pavilion, extension of the dog off leash area, car parking improvements, a connected one-kilometre walking/running loop, and further tree planting and landscaping.

The public exhibition of the Draft Mason’s Lane Reserve Master Plan will form the final part of Stage 4 of the Master Plan’s development, and following the four-week public exhibition, a Final Master Plan and cost estimates will be developed, seeking the approval of the Project Control Group and Council.

The Master Plan will be on Council’s Have Your Say website for comments.

haveyoursay.moorabool.vic.gov.au