Introduction

The Open Space Strategy (Strategy) was developed based on multiple sources of information and data, including:

  • previous feedback from community from a variety of surveys on parks, community needs and the Open Space Background Paper
  • needs assessments based on community and open space needs
  • analysis of the key open space challenges and drivers for Hume City
  • alignment with the Community Infrastructure Plan precinct assessments.

Scroll down to find out more information on how these influenced the Strategy.

Previous community feedback

Data was analysed from a number of community consultations from 2016-2023 to understand community thoughts and feelings about parks and open space.

Click through the tabs to find out about each.

Community Surveys

Community Surveys

  • The 2016/17 and 2018/19 Community Indicators Surveys were analysed for references to open space. Thirty-six respondents made comments that helped understand the community’s priorities and concerns, which included:
    • the effect of housing density on the amount of open space
    • keeping the natural environment, both flora and fauna
    • maintenance and cleanliness of open areas.
    • a desire for walking/bicycling paths.
  • The 2017/18 and 2019/20 Community Surveys were analysed for references to open space. Forty-nine respondents made comments that helped understand the community’s priorities and concerns, which included:
    • keeping the existing natural environment
    • worries about open space being encroached upon by housing
    • cleaning up and maintaining parklands
    • an appetite for walking/biking tracks
    • the need for public toilets.

New Household survey

The 2017/18 and 2019/20 New Household Surveys were analysed for references to open space. Thirty-three respondents made comments that helped understand the community’s priorities and concerns. The majority of respondents enjoyed the parklands and country feel of some areas of Hume (n = 29). The abundance of walking tracks was appreciated by 7 respondents and four respondents liked the larger areas of bushland.

Park consultations

Neighbourhood park consultations

Council’s Open Space and Recreation Planning team carry out consultation prior to the refurbishment of neighbourhood parks. The reports for the 36 neighbourhood park consultations carried out between 2017 and the end of 2019 were analysed. Twelve suburbs were represented, and a total of 1,094 people expressed their opinions and preferences for their local park upgrade.

These consultations revealed that play equipment and the park’s amenity were important to those living nearby. There was a clear difference in preferences for play equipment when comparing the results of providing a list of options and the suggestions offered by respondents. When provided with a list, respondents chose slides, swings and climbing items, most of which are suitable for younger children. When asked for their suggestions, respondents opted for equipment that appealed to an older age range with the top three options being fitness equipment, a flying fox and basketball. When presented with a list of potential improvements to their local park’s amenity respondents chose new park furniture, shady trees and rubbish bins. However, when making their own suggestions they chose seats, a drinking fountain and barbeque facilities.

Parks close to home survey

In November 2021, the Parks Close to Home Survey was conducted. 225 responses were completed as intercept surveys in parks and 2000 responses were completed online. Results included:

  • Access to nature was the primary motivation for people visiting parks
  • 88% of respondents walk to their park close to home (only driving if they don’t have a ‘good’ local park)
  • Key reasons for not visiting a park close to home is that there simply isn’t one, or the quality doesn’t encourage regular visitation.
  • The most visited parks in Hume are regional and district level parks, large enough to provide a range of activities to service a diverse range of people.

The top things people want to see in parks (% of respondents) include:

  • More shade - from trees and structures (79.9%)
  • Seating/tables (66%)
  • Playspaces with swings more adventure play or challenging play, and a split between junior and senior play (59.2%)
  • Large grass open space - irrigated (53.3%)
  • Better and more paths (53.6)
  • Lighting (50.3%).

Background paper feedback

In January – March 2023, the Community Infrastructure Plan and the Open Space Background Paper were published for feedback. The objective of the consultation was to receive feedback on the paper's key principles and the key sites identified under the 'protect, optimise and grow' policy directions.

Overall feedback was positive on the principles and other feedback included:

  • 30 social media comments. These covered:
    • Approx 23% of requested shade and trees
    • Approx 20% felt parks were overgrown with weed problems Approx 17% felt parks have a litter problem
    • Approx 13% requested more nature, native fauna, botanical gardens Approx 13% requested benches and tables and toilets
    • Some park specific requests were made for facilities
    • Concerns were expressed about 15 minute city limitations.
  • Six emails were also received:
    • Request for more basketball courts
    • Request for more shade especially around playgrounds
    • Request for more connected bike paths preferably off road
    • Concerns about safety in parks and misuse at night. The concerns noted relate to perceived safety and lack of sleep.
    • Concerns about potential vandalism Seeking education for dog owners
    • Request for stronger references to proposed Merrifield Linear Park.

Community and open space needs assessments

Community needs data

The community needs assessment data is drawn from Hume Community Infrastructure Plan 2023.

The red dots in the below image highlight the precincts with higher levels of community needs according to the following criteria:

  • Vulnerable and Disadvantaged: levels of social disadvantage and vulnerability such as financial hardship, disengagement with employment and education, and access to affordable housing
  • Health and Wellbeing: levels of physical and/or mental health concerns
  • Accessibility and Inclusion: the ability to get to services and infrastructure (via transport, walking and cycling), combined with the ability to physically access an asset (including people with reduced mobility).

Open space needs assessment

An assessment of open space needs across the City of Hume was also conducted using the following criteria:

  • Experience and Assets: where more work is needed to improve the diversity and number of reserves, plus the quality of assets for:
    • social recreation experiences
    • sporting experiences
    • nature based experiences
    • tree canopy
    • off-leash dog areas
  • Land Investment: where new land is needed to fill:
    • residential gap areas - number of homes not within 400m walk of open space
    • connectivity gap areas - access and accessibility gaps for reserves
    • biodiversity and cultural gap areas - priority areas of ecological and cultural significance.
  • Traditional Owners & Environment: where more work is needed to protect and enhance ecological and cultural values

The red dots below indicate where the highest open space needs were found across the 13 precincts.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Needs assessment

Open space challenges and drivers

The following challenges and drivers were identified in developing the Strategy:

  • Equity

    Equity refers to fairness and social justice and is distinguished from equality. Equity recognises that we do not all start from the same place and adjustments are needed to help address imbalances.

    Hume experiences inequities in open space across communities. This is particularly evident in the established suburbs. Broadmeadows and Roxburgh Park precincts have the least open space per person and often the greater need for playspace renewal.

  • Quantity

    Approximately 7% of Hume is public open space.

    Hume has total of 3886 hectares of open space in 2024 with over 3,002ha accessible to visitors. Hume City manages 1954ha and the rest is primarily managed by Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water and other State agencies. This includes the 838ha Woodlands Historic Park.

    Across the municipality, Hume has a similar amount of open space per person compared to similar growth area Councils.

  • Quality

    The quality of playspaces, turf, trees, paths, seating and other visitor infrastructure is vital to community enjoyment of open spaces.

    There is a need to apply updated infrastructure and maintenance services to ensure all areas across Hume - established and growing have quality open spaces.

    Playspaces are spread across Hume - there are currently 269 with more being created in growth areas. The playspace renewal program needs expanding to meet safety and community expectations.

  • Distribution

    Most residential areas meet the benchmark of all dwellings being within 400m of open space with some gaps in Broadmeadows, Jacana, Dallas, Coolaroo, Greenvale, Campbellfield, Gladstone Park, and Tullamarine.

    Except for Greenvale, all gap areas are in suburbs with high or medium rates of social, economic and health disadvantage.

    Often gaps in established suburbs are from street design and cul-de-sacs that limit easy walking access.

  • Forecast population & land use changes

    Hume’s population is expected to grow by more than 130,000 people in the next 20 years, with most of this growth set to occur in new suburbs which have allocated open space area and infrastructure.

    Some existing urban areas will also undergo population growth leading to higher population densities particularly in existing centres such as Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Sunbury. This will put pressure on existing open spaces but also provide opportunity to increase their quality and resilience.

  • Urban growth

    In growth areas, developer contributions (required under the Planning and Environment Act) will fund new or upgraded open spaces through land donation or monetary contributions.

    Open space contributions received from in-fill development via the Subdivision Act (typically provided as a monetary contribution) can be used by Hume City to help fill known gaps in open space provision.

  • Land administration

    Not all open space reserves are secured with the right planning and administrative controls. Approximately 28% of Hume’s open space land does not yet have ‘public park’ planning zone.

    Approximately 4% of our open space sites require updating from their road reservation status. Multiple Crown land sites have no Committee of Management.

    Addressing these issues will protect open spaces and foster their ongoing stewardship.

  • Loss of open space

    Despite an increased recognition that open space is not surplus space, there continues to be a loss of open space land due to road widening, community building expansions, utility easements, and encroaching residential expansion.

    For example, the Aitken Boulevard Extension south of Somerton Road, if not designed well will remove over 50ha of open space primarily from the Valley and Greenvale precincts.

  • Encumbered open space

    Open space is sometimes encumbered by infrastructure or functions which can limit their visitor accessibility and its landscaping potential.

    Hume will continue to work creatively to use encumbered public lands for open space and recreation purposes.

Community Infrastructure Plan alignment

The City of Hume spans approximately 504 square kilometres. To make open space planning across such a large area easier, the Open Space Strategy was developed by looking at the City of Hume in smaller areas we have called 'precincts.'

The precincts are used for planning purposes only and are also used in Hume's Community Infrastructure Planning Framework to make sure open space and community infrastructure planning aligns.

Map showing the 13 precinct boundaries across Hume

The Strategy also adopts the three key policy directions that align with the Community Infrastructure Plan to guide planning of and investment in open space.

  • Protect: Conservation, heritage, cultural values and preparing for a changing climate
  • Optimise: Open spaces designed and maintained to provide multiple functions in each neighbourhood
  • Grow: New open spaces in areas of highest visitor and/or ecological needs, especially along waterways.

These key policy directions will inform open space implementation plans which will be costed using a sustainable funding model that looks at capital works planning, use of grants, partnerships and open space contributions.

To find out more about these key policy directions, head to the main Open Space Strategy page.