Ballarat Open Space Strategy

Ballarat is well known for some of its key open space areas, like Lake Wendouree, Victoria Park, Lake Learmonth and Mt Buninyong as well as smaller community open spaces. The open space system provides a diverse range of opportunities for residents and visitors as well as the preservation of significant natural environments and features. An impressive mix of waterway corridors, natural forests, lakes, sporting reserves, community parks, playgrounds, regional parks, linkages, landscaped areas, urban spaces and conservation reserves make up the Ballarat open space system. Open space is a significant contributor to the provision of quality communities and its benefits include: * Physical benefits that promote health and wellbeing;; * Psychological benefits through the provision of natural environments; * Social benefits through provision of settings for social networks, creating a sense of community and meeting others; * Environmental benefits through the preservation of ecosystems, creation and protection of habitat and encouraging advocates of the natural environment;; and * Spiritual benefits through the provision of natural environments for contemplation and reflection, invoking a sense of place and connectedness. Over recent years the City of Ballarat has been proactive in developing site specific development and management plans for open space parks, residential growth areas and townships. While this practice is vitally important to determine the detailed direction for specific sites, Council has acknowledged the need to map and assess the open space network on a strategic level. The Ballarat Open Space Strategy achieves this through collectively mapping and assessing the City’s open space network based on an analysis of open space provision and the needs of the community. The Ballarat Open Space Strategy will provide Council with a tool to guide decisions about the future development and management of the City’s open space network.