PLA (Vic/Tas) and VicHealth are partnering to develop a Public Open Space Handbook!
WHAT, HOW + WHEN?
The Public Open Space (POS) Handbook will be developed to assist open space planners, landscape architects, land managers and others involved in planning, designing and managing public space to achieve positive health and wellbeing outcomes.
The POS Handbook replaces the 2013 Open Space Planning and Design Guide.
The POS Handbook is envisioned to be developed in an interactive, modular format. It is intended that this 1st edition:
- identifies the various individual outputs that the sector seeks guidance on
- documents existing reference materials that exist so as not to duplicate effort
- develops a limited number of priority guidance documents
The POS Handbook project will be delivered within the 2025/26 Financial Year.
WHO + WHERE?
The target audience for the POS Handbook will be open space planners, landscape architects, designers, consultants and others involved in planning, designing and managing public space who work and/or provide services to the 79 local government authorities (LGAs) in Victoria.
The POS Handbook will also be useful to other land managers such as Parks Victoria, water authorities, educational institutions, transport agencies and cemeteries trusts.
An industry reference group will be established to help guide the POS Handbook development (refer below for the EOI to nominate).
A series of engagement activities are also planned to ensure all members of our broad industry can get involved and have their say on sector issues, challenges and gaps in existing guidance materials.
Keep an eye out below for further information to get involved – this page will be updated regularly.
WHY?
The Open Space Planning and Design Guide was developed and delivered in 2013 by the Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) Vic/Tas Region’s Open Space Planners Network.
The guide was prepared with funding and support from Sport and Recreation Victoria and seven local government authorities (Ballarat, Banyule, Bayside, Casey, Hume, Melbourne and Wellington).
The guide now requires updating due to industry advancements and to respond to current challenges to ensure that it continues to be a valuable, leading-edge sector resource and promote positive health outcomes.
CONSULTANT SUPPORT
Parks and Leisure Australia (VIC/TAS) have engaged the services of consultants Xyst to assist with delivery of the POS Handbook, primarily led by Nicki Malone and Jenn Benden.
SECTOR INVOLVEMENT
We undertook an Expression of Interest process for interested sector stakeholders to be part of the Project Control Group for this project. Several meetings and workshops will be held to help the project team identify, document and prioritise industry guidance materials.
A big thankyou to Project Control Group members:
Fran Horsley, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Nicole Kalms, XYX Lab – Monash Uni
Ken Marriott, Retired
Jackie Grieve, Monash
Wayne Richards, East Gippsland
Amy Walker, Devonport
Andrew Partos, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
Bridget Maplestone, Planning Institue of Australia
David Hallett, Institute of Public Works and Engineers Australia
Liam Cole, PLA / Wellington Shire
Alli Coombe, PLA / Clarence City Council
We had such an incredible response from the sector with many passionate professionals volunteering to be part of the Project Control Group that we also established a Project Reference Group who will be providing additional feedback on project outcomes before being published.
GET INVOLVED! Sector Survey
This is your chance to help shape the development of the Public Open Space (POS) Handbook to:
- ascertain the key challenges that the sector needs to respond to;
- document what sector guidance already exists;
- identify gaps and prioritise development of new guidance materials
Submissions must be received by COB Wednesday 15 October 2025.
