Dani Basilotta, Chris Andrews, Paul Knaap, and CEO Wayne Hewitt from the Narre Community Learning Centre celebrate the upcomign masterplan for the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick.
By Kelly Yates
A MASTER plan for the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick focussing on landscape design and future facility developments will be created by the City of Casey.
Staff at the Narre Community Learning Centre in Narre Warren, who manage the Old Cheese Factory, say the news of the master plan is long awaited.
CEO Wayne Hewitt said the plan would be a community mapping system to allow council, and the managers of the site, to continue its development.
Mr Hewitt said community feedback and discussions between staff and visitors to the site had indicated that the Old Cheese Factory should develop a community garden, a maze, a wetlands area with indigenous plants, a walking track and an amphitheatre for performing arts to make the City of Casey a tourist attraction.
Mr Hewitt said that the City of Casey developed a vision for the site two years ago, with the main elements including arts, tourism, heritage and open space.
The Old Cheese Factory also needs additional car parking, according to Mr Hewitt.
“We have successful events like the Rotary Club of Berwick’s monthly farmers market, which attracts more than 1000 people, but there is insufficient parking,” he said.
Mr Hewitt said that all existing user groups and stakeholders should have a say in the master plan.
“It’s an exciting development, which we’ve been asking to occur for some time,” he said.
Mr Hewitt said the master plan was classed as a significant priority with council, with the management plan set to be competed by the end of the year.
Council officers will report to the next council meeting on the establishment of a project steering committee for the development and implementation of the master plan.
Officers will also report to council on the proposal to gazette the Old Cheese Factory as a visual arts and heritage facility.
