Recreation and Open Space Strategy 2026-2036

⁠⁠⁠Corangamite Shire is looking to be a leader in the development and growth of

recreation opportunities, and it is envisaged the strategy will provide the direction to

achieve this.

Corangamite Shire boasts some of the best environmental assets in Victoria. It is

expected that the plan will not only identify but recognise the way in which to leverage

and develop these assets to provide both opportunity for residents and visitors to the

Corangamite Shire.

The strategy will also recognise additional opportunities to help strengthen the

Council’s economy. Innovative and contemporary ideas and strategic alignment with

both Council and regional plans will be a priority for its development.

A key objective of the strategy is to consult with local communities to help identify key

priorities to help increase community participation in physical activity. It is well

understood that there is a direct link between health and well-being and participation

in physical activity. The Corangamite Shire has a higher than average incidence of

cardio-vascular disease. The development of the strategy will look to maximise the

opportunities for the broadest possible community participation in sport and recreation

activities to help reduce the incidence of cardio-vascular disease and other health

issues across the Shire.

The project will develop two key products:

1. Scoping paper

a. Identify existing recreation services provided by Council, local clubs and

organisations, other Governments and agencies, and what is successful

and what needs improvement.

b. Map which identifies sport and recreation facilities and public open space

across the Shire and the purpose for which it is being used.

c. Consultation and engagement with community and key stakeholders

d. Discussion paper which details the key issues and opportunities

identified through consultation with the community and stakeholders.

2. Corangamite Shire’s Recreation and Open Space Strategy

a. Strategic analysis of current recreation service and infrastructure

provision, emerging trends, challenges, gaps and opportunities.

b. Development of key action plan for Sport and Recreation Facilities and

active participation programming with due consideration of timing and

resourcing of actions.

Universal Design and inclusion should be embedded throughout the project. The

scoping paper and the Recreation and Open Space Strategy should assess how

recreation facilities, open space, services, programs and engagement approaches can

be planned, upgraded and delivered so they are inclusive, accessible and usable by

people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

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PROJECT SCOPE

Council will be seeking a consultant who can provide creative ways to organise and

present Corangamite Shire’s Recreation and Open Space Strategy to achieve the

following:

• Review Corangamite Shire’s strategic direction for recreation and open

space for the next ten years, including the application of Universal Design

and inclusive access principles

• Audit and analyse the current scope and quality of recreation services

provided by Council and other stakeholders in Corangamite.

• Determine recreational needs for Corangamite for the next 10 years,

including the needs of people of different ages, abilities, backgrounds and

life stages.

• Provide a framework that will assist Council to prioritise projects, activities

and funding programs for the next ten years, with regard to accessibility,

equity, inclusion and Universal Design outcomes.

• Develop an annual action plan of activities to deliver on Corangamite

Shire’s Recreation and Open Space Strategy.

• Gain a greater understanding of key issues and concerns of the community

and other stakeholders in relation to recreation and open space in

Corangamite.

The extent of the strategy will be determined through engagement with stakeholders

during the development process. It is envisaged that the strategy will incorporate the

following components in some way, shape or form:

• ‘SMART’ objectives that will provide guidance to recreation in the Corangamite

Shire

• Key strategic directions to guide future direction of open space, recreation and

sport facility management and service provision, including sustainable practices

in the Corangamite Shire.

• Strategic solutions which identify actions, responsibilities, partnering

opportunities and timelines to achieve the strategic objectives and directions.

• Monitoring & evaluation framework outlining a process, including establishment

of KPI’s, to review and report on the strategic actions.

• Maps & diagrams where appropriate.

• Universal Design principles to guide future planning, renewal, activation and

prioritisation of recreation facilities, public open space and participation

opportunities.

• Actions to improve equitable access and remove barriers to participation for

people who may be excluded by physical, social, cultural, geographic or

information barriers.

The overarching considerations to be given to the strategy are:

1. The community needs, priorities and aspirations, asking the following questions:

1. What are these currently?

2. What will these be in the future?

3. Who should be involved? e.g. Council partners

4. The extent to which existing and future recreation facilities, open spaces,

services and engagement approaches are inclusive and accessible for the

widest possible range of users, including older people, children and young

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people, people with disability, carers, people with temporary injury or illness,

and people living in isolated rural communities.

2. The limitations of Council and consequent needs for partnership approaches in light

of financial pressures that face local government e.g. Rate Capping.

Council will be responsible for implementing the actions outlined in the strategy. While

the strategy will identify potential partners for Council to work with, it is not intended

that the strategy will be implemented by other organisations.

Once the strategy is adopted by Council, it is anticipated that Council will provide an

annual allocation in its budget for the implementation of actions from the strategy, as

well as seek external grant funding to complete identified actions.