PLA Vic/Tas and the City of Greater Geelong invites you to join fellow open space planners for a day of learning, discussion and exploration at our upcoming Open Space Planners Network meeting and site tour.
The day will begin with a warm welcome and an introduction to Geelong’s unique context — its size, diversity, and the open space challenges and opportunities that come with a growing and evolving municipality. Attendees will gain insights into key strategic projects currently shaping the city, including the Public Realm Strategy, Open Space Strategy and Geelong’s Plan for Nature.
A guided discussion and workshop will provide the chance to share common issues, exchange ideas and identify ways to strengthen collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the sector.
After lunch and networking, we’ll head outdoors (weather permitting) for a guided walk along Geelong’s stunning waterfront. This tour will showcase the Rippleside Inclusive Playspace — a newly completed Livvi’s Place — as well as highlights of the Geelong Waterfront Masterplan and Bay Trail Revitalisation.
We look forward to welcoming you for what promises to be an engaging and inspiring day. Please remember to dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a water bottle.
Date: Tuesday 25 November
Start: 9:30am | Finish: 3:00pm
Location: Wurriki Nyal Civic Precint (137-149 Mercer St, Geelong)
Agenda
Whilst we are still developing the final program, an indicative overview of the day’s schedule can be found below:
- 9:30am – Arrivals
- 9:45am – Welcome + overview of the Geelong municipality, the size and diversity and the challenges and opportunities
- 10:00am – Overview of some of the key projects currently underway in Geelong, including the Open Space Strategy
- 10:30am – Guided discussion on shared open space planning issues and challenges being faced by attendees
- 11:15am – Workshop on how we can build the open space planning sector, improve collaboration and knowledge sharing on a more frequent basis
- 11:45am – Short presentations on projects we’ll visit as part of the site tour:
- 12:15pm – Lunch break + networking
- 1:00pm – Site tour walk and talk
- If the weather is on our side we’re hoping to get outside for a tour of the Rippleside Inclusive Playspace, which will be newly completed by this date.
- We plan to take a 30-minute/ 1.2km (each way) walk along the foreshore taking in the sights of the Geelong Waterfront Masterplan and Bay Trail Revitalisation projects along the way to Rippleside.
- Please wear weather appropriate clothing and shoes suitable for walking, and bring a water bottle!
- Attendees can of course make your own way to Rippleside via car if you prefer.
- 3:00pm – Finish
About the Open Space Planners Network
The Open Space Planners Network (OSPN) has been operating as an informal group of interested industry professionals and practitioners since 2007.
The administration and management of the OSPN was for many years coordinated by the City of Melbourne’s Urban Landscapes Department. This arrangement ceased in 2014 and coincided with a decision by a handful of members who had been driving the OSPN to retire, and to allow the next group of open space planners to set the agenda for the sector.
PLA’s Vic/Tas Region Council has always had an informal alliance with the OSPN during the time it was administered by the City of Melbourne, and so it was at this time also that it was agreed that PLA Vic/Tas would provide formal administrative support to the OSPN planning group.
The OSPN was established for the following key reasons:
- To provide open space planners and other allied professionals with access to a network of like-minded people.
- To share resources, information and experiences relating to open space planning and provision.
- To advocate on issues impacting open space planning and provision, and other sector issues.
- To provide opportunities for professional development forums related to open space planning matters.
This event is proudly hosted by 
A big thankyou to event coordinator Emily Hilliard and the Open Space team.