Draft Open Space Strategy 2021-2026

The Open Space Strategy will be a key strategic document which will sit alongside Council's Strategic Management Plans and will influence the direction and scope of open space planning, projects, renewal and maintenance over the next five years.

This draft strategy has been developed after considerable review of Council's Open Spaces from 2015 through to 2020 which involved community consultation on previous drafts of this strategy. Since that time, several major open space planning exercises have been completed including the Port Lincoln Foreshore Project and the Puckridge Park Concept Plan.

This strategy will build upon these and other open space projects already included in the Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2021/2022 and will set out the priorities and key projects for the following 5 years for additional open space projects.

Open spaces do the following:

• Contribute to the City's amenity and environmental quality, as well as significantly enhancing the well-being and enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.
• Play an important part in meeting the recreational needs of our communities. It is also an important determinant of the quality of people's lives by providing a range of opportunities from relaxation, to health and fitness and children's play.
• Provide protection of natural features, cultural sites and natural habitats, while improving the urban environment and providing tourist destinations and attractions. The open space strategy ensures a coordinated approach of enhancing, maintaining and developing our open spaces.

The Draft Open Space Strategy examines the existing supply of public open space (what it is like now) and also considers the demand for public open space (what it should be to match community needs). There are various types of public open space across Port Lincoln, for example:

• parks;
• dryland reserves;
• sportsgrounds;
• drainage reserves; and
• bush reserves.

Key Goal Areas

The Draft Open Space Strategy has 6 key goal areas with supporting actions that we will look to achieve over the next five years. The 6 key goal areas are:

• Goal 1 - Develop a Sustainable Funding Model for Open Space Developments, Upgrades and Renewal
• Goal 2 - Delivery Priority Open Space Projects
• Goal 3 - Increase the range of functions available in Open Spaces
• Goal 4 - Maintain Open Space in accordance with Open Space Principles
• Goal 5 - Enhance Asset Information and Infrastructure Renewal
• Goal 6 - Facilitate better planning for Open Spaces in Land Divisions.

Key Reserve Planning

The Draft Open Space Strategy provides focus for Council's reserve planning activities over the next 5 years, with planning expected for the following reserves:

• Whait Reserve (this year)
• Nelson Square - (Dog Park -this year)
• Murray's Point (future years)
• Harbour View Reserve (future years)
• Flinders Park (future years)

It is also planned that Council will complete masterplans for both the Centenary Oval and Ravendale Sport Complex precincts.

Click the link to view the Draft Open Space Strategy 2021-2026 in full or refer to the Key Documents section on the right of screen.

Hard copies of the Draft Open Space Strategy 2021-2026 were made available available at the Council Administration Office and the Port Lincoln Library from Thursday 19 August 2021 to 5pm on Thursday, September 9, 2021.