A new vision for Victoria's Hanging Rock is on the cards, but some in the community are devastated by the proposed plan.
Key points:
- Local sports clubs will be demolished under the Hanging Rock draft master plan
- The Hanging Rock racecourse will stay
- The state government says the relocation process and facility development model will be subject to a separate council process
Under the current draft master plan, local sporting clubs within the Hanging Rock Reserve will be replaced with picnic areas, woodlands, and car parks.
This means the Hanging Rock Cricket Club, the Hanging Rock Tennis Club and the Hanging Rock Petanque Club will have to move outside of Hanging Rock, but the racecourse will stay.
Clinton Sterlson, secretary of the Hanging Rock Cricket Club, said local sports clubs were consulted "very late in the piece" after the decision had already been made to kick them out of the reserve.
Located inside the racecourse, Mr Sterlson says the Hanging Rock Cricket Club had been playing at the location since 1903, and it had been a drawcard for new players.
"We have players who come from as far as Bacchus Marsh and Melton to come to play with us, purely because they love playing at the venue," he said.
Mr Sterlson said the move would be detrimental to the club.
"Very disappointed," he said.
"It's our identity; we're the Hanging Rock Cricket Club."
Master plan the right step forward, says action group
Matthew Nickson from the Hanging Rock Action Group welcomed the new draft master plan, especially compared to the resort and day spa proposed by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council in 2014.
But he wanted to see further steps taken by the council and state government to ensure the natural landmark's protection.
"We'd like to see a mechanism put in place to stop that [unnecessary development] completely," he said.
Mr Nickson said he wanted to see the East Paddock, which is now owned by the state government, rezoned.
"The previous council received a million dollars from the former state government to rezone the land, which they've never done," he said.
In relation to the loss of local sporting clubs in the reserve, Mr Nickson said it was unfortunate but he said the state government must prioritise cultural values and revitalising native revegetation in the redevelopment.
Government: draft master plan reflects what community wants
Lily D'Ambrosio, Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister said the government had been working closely with traditional owner groups.
"There's a real strong focus on traditional songlines inherent in the landscape," she said.
The minister said the draft master plan focused on protecting the environment, enhancing the event space, growing its tourism potential, and improving educational facilities with a new discovery centre.
"We've worked really closely with all the relevant stakeholders to make sure we get a draft master plan that reflects what the community interest is here," Ms D'Ambrosio said.
The draft master plan stated that the project team met with representatives from the three sporting clubs, where they expressed their preference for remaining on site.
"The current draft master plan does not plan for accommodating some of the clubs on site in the future," it said.
The cricket club's Mr Sterlson said it was "quite upsetting".
"It really feels like they're kicking out the club, which is made up mostly of junior cricketers," he said.
The state government said the master plan was in line with the 50-year Hanging Rock strategic plan, approved in 2018, which stated:
"The contribution of local sporting activities, at the precinct, to the wellbeing of people and communities around the Hanging Rock is recognised by maintaining these activities in the short term and through engaging with sporting clubs and the community regarding the relocation of sporting activities in the longer term."
A government spokesperson said there would be a transition time of around five years.
"The Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning and Macedon Ranges Shire Council are working with cricket and tennis clubs on transitioning to other locations nearby that will allow for better facilities," they said.
There are two pop-up community information sessions and two drop-in information sessions over the next five weeks.
Consultation is open until February 28.
The final Hanging Rock precinct master plan is expected to be completed in June.
Hanging Rock development to get rid of local sporting clubs under draft master plan - ABC News
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