Jacana Valley Parklands
Project Update April 2012
Council is preparing a Master Plan for the regionally significant open space consisting of Johnstone Street Reserve, Jacana Reserve, Jacana Valley Park and the Moonee Ponds Creek wetland and surrounding parkland.
Following conversations with the community, stakeholders and government agencies in late 2011, a Visioning Framework.pdf (5415.42 kb) has been prepared capturing current values, future aspirations and a vision for the parkland.
The Visioning Framework will guide the preparation of the draft Master Plan over the coming months. The Visioning Framework is also available for viewing at the Broadmeadows Customer Service Centre, Broadmeadows Leisure Centre or the Age Library, Broadmeadows, or by contacting Council on 9205 2200.
Study area
The Jacana Valley precinct and adjoining parkland currently provides for sport and recreation, walking, cycling, play and opportunities to connect with nature.
The precinct connects to Broadmeadows Valley Park to the north and the Jacana Wetland south of the Western Ring Road in neighbouring Moreland City Council.
Developing the parkland will respond to Broadmeadows’ and the broader regional catchment’s growing population.
Hume City Council owns and manages Johnstone Street Reserve, Jacana Valley Park, Freeland Grove Reserve and part of Jacana Reserve fronting Lorraine Crescent. VicRoads and Melbourne Water own the remainder of the site including the sportsgrounds at Jacana Reserve.
View Jacana Valley in a larger map
Imagine Jacana Valley
The values and aspirations for Jacana Valley were identified during an eight-week period of community and stakeholder engagement in late 2011. The aspirations for the precinct have informed the Jacana Valley Master Plan Visioning Framework.
Consultation activities included:
- 220 surveys completed by residents in Broadmeadows, Gladstone Park, Jacana and surrounding suburbs
- Stakeholder and government agency planning workshop
- Community group ‘storytelling’ workshop
- Community picnic at Rotary Park, Johnstone Street Reserve
- Meetings involving Jacana Cricket Club, Jacana Football Club and Broadmeadows Sporting Club
- Conversations at the Broadmeadows Structure Plan information sessions and the Broadmeadows Fiesta
Current and future values identified for the site include:
- An open space destination of metropolitan significance providing a unique mix of recreation, community and cultural opportunities
- An increased range of passive and active recreation opportunities providing choice for young people, children and families
- Sustainable and inclusive sports clubs providing for local communities
- Potential for urban agriculture and arboriculture initiatives
- Improved quality of sporting facilities potentially co-located at Jacana Reserve
- A diverse program of recreation, social and cultural events and activities
- Ongoing environmental restoration and access to the Creek and wetlands
- A place that is welcoming, accessible, secure and supports use 12-14 hours per day
- A high quality and high amenity landscape, with nodes of concentrated activity interspersed with open spaces in a natural landscape
- Improved connectivity with and surveillance from new residential stock bordering the parkland
The Vision
Jacana Valley will be a key regional open space providing social, environmental and urban connectivity for the community. It will provide a range of values and benefits; from being a place of beauty and quiet contemplation to a social hub for sport and cultural activities.
These values have guided the development of the vision for the Jacana Valley parkland.
The community’s diversity and depth of heritage will drive the:
- Implementation of high-quality, high amenity landscape architecture that provides for a range of uses including: family spaces, active and passive recreation and urban agriculture
- Re-development and activation of regional sporting programs. Viable sporting clubs delivering a range of active recreation and associated social activities for members and the local community
- Transformation of the valley into a community-based destination that is designed to create safety and security, reduce isolation and instigate a sense of place and identity with all user groups
- Environmental sustainability
- Improved accessibility within the valley itself and to the broader context of Broadmeadows, parkland to the south of the M80 and beyond
- Development of a robust interpretation and public arts plan
- The development of residential areas for the purposes of economic regeneration and improvement to the interface of the valley
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Next stage - preparing the draft Master Plan
The draft Master Plan will reflect the vision and aspirations for Jacana Valley, and detail the future uses, experiences and functionality for current and future generations. Council will continue to work with the community, stakeholders and agencies in preparing the draft Master Plan.
It is anticipated the draft Master Plan will be released for community feedback in June 2012.
For more information on the Jacana Valley Master Plan project contact Council’s Coordinator Open Space and Recreation Planning on 9205 2200 or email contactus@hume.vic.gov.au.
Preliminary investigation- potential residential development
The preparation of the draft Master Plan includes investigation of areas of potential residential development at Freeland Grove Reserve and at the rear of properties off Sunset Boulevard, Jacana.
If feasible and with support, properties will be oriented to overlook the parkland improving surveillance and activation of the park’s fringe and support economic regeneration.
Preliminary investigations include infrastructure servicing capacity, geotechnical assessment, traffic, drainage and rezoning from Public Park and Recreation to Residential.
For more information on the investigation of potential residential development contact Manager Finance and Property Development on 9205 2200 or email contactus@hume.vic.gov.au.