Sarah Oliver
Darley residents can expect much-needed developments of Darley Park over the coming months and years.
At last week’s council meeting, Moorabool councillors adopted the Darley Park Master Plan in a bid to address the demand for better sports and recreation facilities in the town as it’s population booms.
The plan will guide development of the reserve over the next 10 years.
The council’s 2020-21 budget includes $200,000 to implement the plan.
The reserve is home to many sporting clubs, including Darley Football and Netball club, Darley Cricket Club and the pigeon club. It also hosts a BMX track, tennis coaching and a community market.
Community consultation was undertaken before drafting the master plan, with a survey open for four weeks, which received 77 mostly positive responses, with issues mostly around the support of a future skate park.
According to the data, the park is also frequently used for casual walking, cycling and socialising, with 75 per cent of survey respondents saying they use the park at least once a week.
It also found security lighting was one of the most requested changes, as well as protection from wind.
Short-term changes to the park include extending the walking path and making it more accessible, adding barbecues to picnic areas, more sustainable options for water usage and relocation of the pigeon club, amongst other projects.
In the medium-term, the plans look to upgrade the BMX track, replace coaching boxes, consideration of a small skate area, upgrade of park furniture and to include community art.
The long-term projects will be fully enclosed cricket nets, upgrading the hard court area and installing security lighting.
