Lake Lorne Reserve Drysdale - Approval of Final Masterplan before Geelong Council on 14 February

Geelong Council this Tuesday 14 February 2012 will vote on whether to adopt the Lake Lorne Reserve Masterplan incorporating the various amendments that have been made since it went out for consultation.

Below is an extract from the Geelong Council Agenda (14 February 2012) (in pdf format 12,032 kb) available from the Geelong Council website.

1. LAKE LORNE RESERVE, DRYSDALE- APPROVAL OF FINAL MASTERPLAN
Portfolio: Environment, Sustainability & Climate Change - Cr Doull
Source: City Services/Environment & Natural Resources
General Manager: Gary Van Driel
Index Reference: Subject: Council Reports 2012, Environment Waterways

Summary

• Lake Lorne Reserve is a Crown Land Reserve located on the western edge of the Drysdale township, immediately adjacent to the Drysdale Railway Station and Bellarine Rail Trail. Council acts as the Committee of Management for the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
• It is a popular passive reserve for people to walk around and observe the extensive and diverse number of birds, mainly waterfowl, that frequent this waterway. The Geelong Field Naturalists Club (GFNC) recognises this as one of the most significant freshwater wetlands on the Bellarine Peninsula, used by a number of threatened species.
• The Reserve is currently unfenced along Reserve Road and the Geelong- Portarlington Road enabling unlimited access for vehicles and dogs throughout the Reserve.\
• Council received a written request from the Drysdale-Clifton Springs Progress Association to establish a pathway around the lake within this Reserve. There is currently no pathway or infrastructure in the Reserve and the Association expressed a strong desire to improve the connectivity within the Reserve for the local community.
• A Project Working Group was established with key stakeholders and extensive consultation undertaken in the development of a draft Masterplan.
• The key features of the Masterplan involve a new 2.0 metre wide compacted crushed rock pathway, a section of which is to be constructed within the VicTrack land opposite the Drysdale Railway Station; a boardwalk in the north-west corner of the reserve in an area that is inundated when the lake is full; erection of new conservation fencing around the upper water level of the lake and erection of new timber post and rail parking barriers along Reserve Road and a section of the Geelong-Portarlington Road to restrict vehicle access onto the new pathway and into the public reserve.
• Council at its meeting on 25 January 2011 resolved to:

1. Support the public exhibition of the Draft Lake Lorne Reserve Masterplan;

2. Support that the public exhibition involves, but is not limited to sending letters to the property owners opposite the reserve; placing a notice in the Springdale Messenger, The Echo and The Independent; erecting an information board onsite and the Drysdale Customer Service Centre; placing notices and copies of the Draft Masterplan in the Drysdale Railway Station and send copies of the Draft Masterplan to the Project Working Group.

3. Be presented with a final report following the public consultation period and liaison with the Project Working Group

• The public consultation also involved weekly public notices in all the newspapers including the Geelong Advertiser and The Bellarine Times.
• The draft Masterplan was placed on public exhibition from 14 February 2011 to 18th March 2011 and Council received a total of 18 submissions.
• A summary of all the submissions received and recommended actions/responses was prepared and forwarded to the Project Working Group and discussed at a meeting on 11 August 2011. The Project Working Group agreed with the recommended actions/responses as suggested by Council.
• Letters and emails were forwarded to the 18 submitters advising them of the recommended actions/response to the matters raised in their submissions. Council officers also personally liaised with three submitters that live opposite the reserve.
• Subject to some minor amendments, as outlined in this report, it is recommended the Lake Lorne Reserve Masterplan be adopted by Council.

Recommendation

That Council:

1) adopt the Lake Lorne Reserve Masterplan incorporating the various amendments as outlined in this report and within the Summary of Submissions document;

2) send letters to the submitters advising them of Council's adoption of the Masterplan and the changes made to the final document;

3) send letters to the members of the Project Working Group thanking them for their assistance and support in the development of the Masterplan;

4) continue to inform the local community about the implementation of the Masterplan.