By Eleanor Wilson
A series of new feature gardens, a car park expansion and redevelopment of the Visitor Centre are among plans for the future of Wilson Botanic Park, outlined in Casey Council’s master plan released on Friday 8 July.
Coinciding with the park’s 30th anniversary, the master plan outlines several projects the City of Casey intends to deliver over the next 20 years and beyond, subject to funding.
The council has now opened the master plan for public review, with residents encouraged to provide feedback over the next three weeks, after which feedback will be considered prior to council adoption being sought.
The timeline for the Draft Wilson Botanic Park Berwick Master Plan is split into three phases, with short-term concepts projected to be delivered in the next 10 years, mid-term concepts undertaken in 11-20 years down the track and long-term concepts which will be considered after 20 years.
The master plan’s short-term concepts includes an outline for the replacement and relocation of the current visitor centre toward the main park entrance.
The main car park will also be upgraded and expanded, delivering a total of 273 spaces, two bus bays and two drop off bays, providing a total of 143 additional spaces.
The entrance to the park will be enlivened with a water canal garden from the front entrance, leading visitors along to Lilypad Lake and Anniversary Lake.
Installation of accessible ramps, renovation of the lily pad lake to make way for the canal gardens and upgrades to sewerage, electricity and utilities are also included in plans for the first phase of the masterplan, to be delivered in coming years.
The council also plans to install WiFi throughout the park, which is currently only available at the visitor centre, and a lighting master plan will improve visability for park users, extending overall useable hours.
City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said she encourages residents to take this opportunity to view the draft plan and share their thoughts.
“The masterplan articulates a vision for the park to secure it as a thriving botanic garden of the future, with its unique features and landscapes celebrated as a point of difference to others in the region,” Ms Duff said.
“The park attracts over 600,000 visitors per year and warrants further development to generate economic growth opportunities by attracting tourists to the region, as well as further enriching the lives of our local community.”
A mid-term concept for the replacement of the park’s cafe, which is a fairly recent addition, proposes a new cafe/restaurant, kitchen, alfresco dining area, toilets and a changing area, as well as various indoor and outdoor multipurpose spaces.
A kitchen garden, fern garden, seasonal garden, perennial garden and Hoo Hoo tower garden are also included in plans for phase two of the Park’s future development.
Ms Duff said council will require external funding from a variety of sources to successfully implement the masterplan.
“To assist the implementation of this master plan, council will require external funding from a variety of sources including State and Federal Governments, so it is important that we know the draft masterplan meets the needs and expectations of the local community before we undertake any advocacy,” she said.
Council also intends advocate for and install a signalised intersection along the Princes Highway and the entrance to the park, with the masterplan stating operational and safety issues, along with a lack of pedestrian crossing facilities, will be exacerbated by additional visitation numbers in the future.
Looking toward the long-term future, a series of elevated walkways would provide visitors with the opportunity to explore a dynamic ‘treetop’ experience, weaving through the canopies and trunks of successional tree planting, while a geoheritage walkway which would give visitors closer access to the historical basalt rock face and fossils.
Education was another vital element in the development of the masterplan, with a series of ’learning pods’ and expansion of education programs proposed, to promote the horticultural and historical significance of the park.
The draft Wilson Botanic Park Berwick Masterplan 2022 will be available to view until Friday 29 July, after which public feedback will be considered prior to council adoption being sought.
To view the master plan, head to conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/wbpb-masterplan
