Let's shape the future of our open spaces together

We are seeking your ideas, thoughts, and feedback on Baw Baw Shire's Draft Open Space Strategy to help to finalise it.

About the draft Open Space Strategy

Baw Baw Shire’s open space network includes everything from conservation reserves and large garden-style parks to playgrounds, walking tracks and mixed used sporting reserves. These spaces support health, wellbeing, biodiversity, and social connection. But our open space is under pressure, from population growth, urban development, climate change, biodiversity loss, and competing demands.
To respond, Council has developed a Draft Open Space Strategy that sets the direction for how we plan, design, manage, and deliver parks and open space – now and into the future. you can view the Draft Open Space Strategy and the Summary of it in the Key document section.

How the strategy was developed

The draft Strategy has been shaped through community feedback and technical assessments:

• 2023: We asked the community how they use open space, what they value, and what improvements they’d like to see. For more information about this consultation click Open Space Strategy-Round 1
• 2025: The Baw Baw Community Panel shared key priorities, which have been strongly considered. For more information about this consultation visit Baw Baw Community Panel Summary Report in key document section.
• Technical assessments were also completed series of assessment to identify gaps in walking access to the parks and opportunities for improvement.

What we heard in the first round of community consultation

Read the Open Space Strategy Consultation Report In key document, for more detail.

Community feedback highlighted the importance of prioritising new parks and upgrades in areas with gaps in walking access in growth areas and townships, as well as delivering high-quality parks in rural areas. The strategy also responds to calls for expanding trail networks and linking towns and destinations, integrating biodiversity and climate resilience into all upgrades, and including cultural heritage storytelling and co-design with Traditional Owners.

How you can get involved:

We want to hear from you!

This is the final stage of consultation before the Strategy is finalised.
We want to make sure we’ve captured your views and priorities.

You can view and download the Draft Open Space Strategy and Draft Summary Open Space Strategy via the link found in the Key Documents section of this page.

There are several ways you can share your thoughts on the Draft Open Space Strategy:

• 📝 Complete the Online Survey
  Click the ‘Take Survey’ button to provide your feedback online
• 📅 Attend a Drop-in Session
  Chat with Council officers, ask questions, and give feedback in person. Dates and locations are listed on Come and Chat section of this page.
• 📞 Give Us a Call
  Speak directly with a Council officer – call us at 1300 229 229 and talk to a member of Recreation team.
• 📧 Send Us an Email
  Prefer to put your thoughts in writing? Email us anytime at Open.Space@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au

This community consultation closes on Friday 3 October 2025 at 5pm.