Prepared by Pollen Studio for Brimbank City Council

MARCH 2022

2

SYDENHAM PARK MASTER PLAN

1.1 Sydenham Park Investigations and

Feasibility Studies

Based on Council’s resolutions from the Council Meeting on 17

March 2020 and 18 August 2020 (2020/2021 Annual Budget

adoption), Council officers commissioned the following studies for

Sydenham Park:

–

Cultur

al Heritage Management Plan Summary Report (refer

Attachment 1)

–

R

obertson’s Homestead Feasibility Study (refer Attachment 2)

–

Flor

a and Fauna Assessment (refer Attachment 3)

–

P

ark Access Infrastructure Design (refer Attachment 4)

The following highlights the outcomes of each report and the

impacts on the Sydenham Park Master Plan (SPMP) that have been

documented in the draft Sydenham Park Master Plan Addendum

Update 2022 (refer Figure 1).

The establishment of a CHMP involves three phases of assessment.

For the proposed works associated with a new Shared User Path

(SUP) and upgrade to existing paths without sub-surface impact,

a Desktop and Standard Assessment has been undertaken for the

CHMP. Future works will require additional Standard and Complex

Assessment subject to the extent of ground disturbance.

The Desktop Assessment revealed 16 sites were registered with

the Victoria Aborginal Heritage Register (VAHR). The Standard

Assessment was completed by traversing Sydenham Park on foot

to complete a full survey coverage of the Activity Area. Field notes

recorded ground conditions, the vegetation type, landform and

details of areas of archaelogical potential for Aboriginal cultural

heritage.

Previously identified Aboriginal places and the high amount of

surface artefacts indicate that Sydenham Park is highly sensitive.

Artefacts in general were located in areas of higher visibility.

A site inspection took place with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrng

Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation as they are the Registered

Aboriginal Party for this site. The outcome of this meeting was

an agreement on the path alignment, lookout location and

construction methodologies.

The CHMP recommends to the VAHR that Sydenham Park be

consisdered as a multi-component Aboriginal Place.

Robertson’s Homestead is a locally significant c.1860 bluestone

house located within Sydenham Park to the north of the Golf

Course. The Homestead and its curtilage are architecturally and

historically significant. The Homestead has remained unoccupied

for approximately twenty years and requires structural remediation

and conservation works to preserve it and prevent further

deterioration.

The RHFS has investigated the condition of the Homestead and

what is required to restore the Homestead either in its current

location or relocated to another site within Sydenham Park

as highlighted as an option in the SPMP. Due to the proposed

upgrades to Melbourne Airport and the changing planning policy

any proposed adaptive reuses of the Homestead in its current

location would be prohibited due to noise impacts of the proposed

east west runway.

The RHFS details that any adaptive reuse would require that the

Homestead to be relocated to the area proposed for the Potential

Community and Sports Hub as highlighted in the SPMP.

The RHFS recommendation is to undertake restoration works

and retain the Homestead in its current location as a landmark

structure with interpretative signage thereby maintaining and

enhancing its cultural significance.

The proposed new Shared User Path will allow for walkers to view

the Homestead from close range and read about the significance of

the Homestead through new interpretive signage.

The FFA considers that Sydenham Park is an important local and

regional asset that supports a range of significant flora, fauna and

habitat values. In the context of the area where substantial native

vegetation remnants are rare, in spite of the historic degree of

modification and present levels of disturbance, this park currently

offers good biodiversity values and this can be greatly improved

with continued strategic planning and management. A broad

range of values was assessed, with a focus on identifying listed and

protected fauna and ecosystems within the park. The report also

acknowledges the areas regional importance as a connection in the

landscape, particularly along the waterways, and the value of this

for the more ‘common’ species.

Sydenham Park also supports or provides habitat for a number

of threatened and regionally significant fauna species with the

potential for other species either migrating from surrounding

areas or through reintroductions to permanently reside on the

land. Similarly, to the neighbouring Organ Pipes National Park, with

enhancement of key habitats, Sydenham Park has the potential to

support sustainable populations of Krefft’s (Sugar) Gliders, a range

of micro bats and Striped Legless Lizards (through translocation).

FFA recommends that further targeted surveys be considered

to understand the extent of biodiveristy at Sydenham Park and

to offer education and training opportunity for stakeholders to

continue vital flora and fauna assessment.

Any future works to occur at Syden

ham P

ark will require a

Planning Permit due to the likely impact on native vegetation and

this will be referred to DELWP. As such, a site inspection took place

with DELWP officers, in advance of the Planning Permit phase for

path works, to discuss the works and associated elements, such as

the location of the proposed lookout. The feedback received has

been incorporated in to the design of a new path network.

Council have prepared a new Shared User Path alignment and

modifications to the existing paths. The design process sought

feedback from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage

Aborginal Corporation, DELWP and Council staff. A ‘no dig’

approach has been adopted for works associated with path access

to avoid damage to significant flora and fauna habitat and existing

artefacts.

It is proposed to continue to allow cars to park at the Kings Road

Interchange where community members can walk from here using

the new Shared User Path or alternatively, when the gate is open

at the Kings Road interchange, providing access to the Golf Course

car park. It is proposed to close Farr Parkway to cars just past the

pedestrian access to the Golf Course Driving Range to create a

Shared User Zone for the remainder of Farr Parkway. Cycling and

walking will be allowed in addition to Council staff and members

of the Keilor and District Model Aircraft Society. Car parking will be

signed posted at both locations.

A planning application has been commenced for Park Access

Infrastructure and is anticipated to be completed in 1st Quarter of

2022. Following this, construction is planned for mid-2022, to be

completed by the end of 2022. Works may be staged subject to

budget and tender costing.

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SYDENHAM PARK MASTER PLAN

1.2 Sydenham Park Master Plan 2020 -

Proposed Addendum Updates

As a result of the commissioned investigations and feasibility

studies, an update to the SPMP has been prepared as a draft

Sydenham Park Master Plan Addendum Update 2022 (refer Figure

1). The main changes include:

–

Final layout of walking trails includes a new Shared User

Path, Shared Zone circulation. A circuit from Kings Road

Interchange provides a loop around Robertson’s Homestead

and back to Kings Road via an Shared Zone access.

–

Upgr

aded existing paths enable walking into the river valley

including the confluence of the Maribyrnong River. Includes a

new loop at the confluence of the Maribyrnong River.

–

Proposed locations for new lookout, seating, signs, gates,

fencing, bins and drinking fountain.

–

‘Potential Future Sports Field Expansion’ component

within the existing Golf Course is removed as no longer

required given Council was not successful in its Expression

of Interest for the Home of Football (Matildas) Bid and the

area proposed for the replacement golf holes would not be

suitable given the high level of artefacts and biodiversity.

–

‘Possible Future Sports Field Expansion’ component

proposed to the west of Kings Road is removed due to (1) the

alignment of the Shared User Path through this area, which

was chosen to limit its environmental impact while providing

the best connection to the Kings Road Shared User Path,

and (2) the confirmation (through Robertson’s Homestead

Feasibility Study) that the majority of this area is affected

by the Melbourne Airport contours in relation to Lighting

Distractions meaning lighting of sports facilities would not be

permissible severely limiting functionality and use.

–

‘Potential Commercial Opportunity’ component also

proposed to the west of Kings Road is removed, as this area

is considered more appropriate as a potential revegetation

zone for grassland species. This revegetation is seen as a

crucial component of improving biodiversity in Sydenham

Park in the long term by creating a new seed source.

The seeds produced will be used for propagation of new

grassland species for use in revegetation works across

Sydenham Park.

–

Chang

ed the proposed location for a relocated ‘Keilor

Golf Course Maintenance Depot’ to the open space on

the eastern side of Keilor Golf Course, subject to further

investigations.

–

An

y additional fencing and gates need to be justified on

safety grounds and ensure access to all park users during

normal hours of operation of the park.

–

Upda

ted wording on the western side of the entrance to

‘Proposed Grassland and Future Recreation Facilities’.

–

Included an additional pr

oposed 3m wide Shared User Path

from main gate travelling north alongside existing trees

to path network near Robertson’s Homestead, subject to

further investigations and approval from Wurundjeri Woi

Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and State

Government Department of Environment Land, Water and

Planning.

The investigations and feasibility studies, and the Draft Sydenham

Park Master Plan Addendum Update 2022, have provided Council

with the necessary framework to continue working towards

creating Sydenham Park as an accessible open space destination.

This work is ongoing in order to commence on-site works to build a

new access path in mid-2022.

Further consideration in relation to the funding for restoration

works for Robertson’s Homestead and feasibility analysis in relation

to future sporting facilities will be considered by Council as part of

future Annual Budget processes.

Draft Sydenham Park Master Plan Addendum Update 2022