Reserve management plans

Council manages and maintains over 130 parks and reserves on your behalf – from playgrounds and sportsgrounds, to esplanades and scenic and native bush reserves.

Reserve Management Plans guide how we use our parks and reserves

Reserve Management Plans tell us how the community wishes to see the reserves council manages used and looked after. They guide decisions for the reserve(s) by setting out objectives, policies and rules for how the reserve(s) are used, managed, protected or developed. 

We’re reviewing and preparing reserve management plans

Government’s Reserves Act 1977 requires councils to ensure their reserves have fit-for-purpose management plans. Of the 130 parks and reserves council manages, most have no management plan in place and many of those that do are outdated.

We’re drafting an ‘omnibus’ plan that will cover all our open space reserves and meets our Open Space Strategy vision and priorities.

It will be easy to maintain and refer to and will be continually reviewed to reflect community needs and legal requirements.

Phases of the review

1. Notify intent to develop/review a Reserve Management Plan
2. Seek community and stakeholder feedback on the use, management and development of reserve/s
3. Prepare draft omnibus Reserve Management Plan 
4. Publicly notify and invite submissions on the draft plan
5. Analyse submissions
6. Hold a hearing of submissions
7. Implement approved Reserve Management Plans.

How you can get involved

There are two opportunities for you to provide input into the preparation of our Reserve Management Plans. The first is a public notice called a ‘notice of intent’ to signal the start of the community engagement phase. The second opportunity will be when the draft RMP is prepared – you will be able to submit on the draft plan. 

To be notified directly:

• Sign up for public notices
• Register to have your say

Phase 1 – Feedback Sought:

This first opportunity to provide input is at the beginning of the plan’s development. Your feedback influences what goes into the draft Reserve Management Plan.

This engagement will run from 25 August until 6 October. 

Phase 2 – Comments on Draft RMP Sought:

This phase is the formal consultation under the Reserves Act 1977. Council calls for public submissions on the draft plan. Your submissions are considered as part of a formal process to create the final plan.

We aim to have the draft plan ready for submissions around mid-year 2026.

Current Reserve Management Plans