Precinct I: Monbulk and SilvanDescription

Monbulk and Silvan are mainly rural areas, with residential areas in the two townships. Major open space and recreation features include Silvan Reservoir and park, Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve, Wards Road Reserve, Monbulk Aquatic Centre, Monbulk Recreation Reserve, Silvan Recreation Reserve and the Monbulk Synthetic Soccer Pitch.

The precinct has a strong agricultural industry (farming and orchards) due to the quality of the agricultural land.

What population changes will affect the need for open space and recreation facilities?

The residential population of Monbulk and Silvan is 4 723 people, based on the 2011 Census data. The population has declined slightly since the early 1990s, a result of little change in dwelling stock and a decline in average household size.

Analysis of the age structure of the precinct in 2011 compared to Yarra Ranges Shire shows a larger proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17) but a smaller proportion of people in the older age groups (60+).

Increases in age cohorts were recorded in 12 to 17 years (additional 20 people) 50 to 59 years (additional 10 people), 60 to 69 years (additional 51 people) and 70 to 84 years (additional 19 people) since 2001. These statistics show an ageing population and it is expected that the older adult age group (60+) will increase and people under 15 years of age decrease in the future.

There is however a large proportion of age groups supporting young families with 34.5% between the ages of 25 to 49 years and 26.2% between the ages of 0 to 17 years.

The Monbulk and Silvan precinct supports families and is experiencing an ageing population. Council expects a continuing demand for mainstream participation sports, a diversity of open spaces including social recreation parks, and accessible recreation opportunities.

What future housing developments are planned?

There is continued demand for residential development within Yarra Ranges, catering both for people moving from Melbourne and for new households being formed from within the existing Yarra Ranges community.

The current population for the precinct is 4 723 (Yarra Ranges Community Profile 2011). The projected population in 2031 is 5 285.

There are no plans to increase housing density in the Monbulk and Silvan precinct. This is largely due to the topography of the area and the significant bushland and agricultural areas.

What open space do we have?

There is more than 207ha of open space in the precinct, which is largely natural bushland area. Parks Victoria manages the natural bushland areas including Yellingo Nature Conservation Reserve and Silvan Reservoir, while Council owns and manages the recreation reserves in the local townships.

Yarra Ranges Council Recreation and Open Space Strategy – Precinct Strategies Action Sheets

Key sports reserves and facilities

Monbulk Recreation Reserve consists of a senior sports field, cricket nets, netball court, skate park and play space. The Monbulk Recreation Reserve and Monbulk Sports Precinct together provide a district sports reserve for the community. The Monbulk Living and Learning Centre and Monbulk Primary School border the reserve, and improving connections between the three sites is a priority.

Monbulk Sports Precinct consists of a synthetic soccer pitch with competition standard lighting, bowls facility and multi court outdoor netball facility. The Monbulk Sports Precinct and Monbulk Recreation Reserve together provide a district sports reserve for the community.

Baynes Park is a local sports reserve for junior participation. The park includes the Monbulk Aquatic Centre. This is a district sports facility providing aquatic, fitness and leisure activities to the Hills District. The aquatic centre has recently been redeveloped to include a program pool and gym to the lap pool.

Silvan Recreation Reserve is a local sports reserve with a recently upgraded sports field, netball courts and cricket practice nets.

Social recreation parks

Local social recreation parks with picnic facilities and play space opportunities are located at Burns Way Reserve; Lilydale-Monbulk Road Reserve; McAllister Road Reserve; Oaktree Drive Reserve.

Trails

Sassafras Creek Trail runs along Sassafras Creek and Woori Yallock Creek connecting Butterfield Reserve with Baynes Park and Dandenong Ranges National Park.

The Menzies Creek Trail runs along Menzies Creek connecting Menzies Creek to Butterfield Reserve.

Flora and fauna conservation reserves

Ward’s Road Reserve is a large area of protected bushland, surrounded by open farmland. The reserve supports horse riding.

Silvan Reservoir receives its water supply from the Thomson, Upper Yarra and O’Shannassy Reservoirs. In turn, Silvan Reservoir supplies domestic water to many of Melbourne’s suburbs and other large off-stream storage reservoirs such as Cardinia and Greenvale. The landscape qualities of the park have gained recognition by the National Trust of Australia. The Torulosa Stairway and formal arrangement of exotic trees and stonework are an essential part of the cultural and heritage values of the park. The park is also a highly significant natural habitat and is frequented by a diverse range of bird species. Trails, nature appreciation walks and picnic areas are offered in the park.

Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve covers an area of around 9600 hectares. It is a linear reserve containing stream-frontage land along the Woori Yallock, Shepherd, Cockatoo, Macclesfield and Sheep Station Creeks. It is important for the conservation of the last wild colonies of the Helmeted Honeyeater, the main goal of reserve management. Parks Victoria manages this reserve as well as adjoining freehold land along Cockatoo Creek, owned by the Victorian Trust for Nature

The Butterfield Nature Conservation Reserve is a large area of protected forest, next to the Woori Yallock Creek. It is the habitat of many species of birds, animals, and fauna. There is a 2km nature walk and picnic area at the reserve.

Is our existing open space sufficient?

There is not enough open space for sport in the Monbulk and Silvan areas to cater for existing demand. Particular pressure is being placed on sports fields due to the increasing soccer participation and demand for soccer fields in the precinct.

Open space is available in conservation reserves and national parks, a range of sporting reserves, outdoor courts and community parks offering social recreation and relaxation opportunities.

As this is predominantly a rural area, centrally located open spaces that are flexible and offer diversity in recreation opportunities are encouraged. This principle is applied in Monbulk and Silvan, with major sports facilities and social recreation parks being located close to communities and with the size and functionality to offer a range of recreation opportunities to the community.

Yarra Ranges Council Recreation and Open Space Strategy – Precinct Strategies Action Sheets Precinct I

Ward Road Reserve is the key parcel of open space that accounts for more than half of all municipally owned open space in this precinct. Monbulk is generally well supplied with open space, and there is good access through to Parks Victoria’s Sassafras Creek Trail, but the ability for existing sports fields to accommodate the growth of soccer participation is unsustainable and the development of the proposed sub-regional soccer facility is a priority.

The key open space in the north of the precinct is Silvan Recreation Reserve and there is limited open space in the rural eastern part of the precinct which borders Parks Victoria’s Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve.

Melbourne Water’s Silvan Reservoir is located in the precinct. The reservoir catchment is not accessible to the public however the Silvan Reservoir Park is open daily to the public and has access to Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Issues

There is a need to improve the quality of existing open space in the precinct to provide more diverse recreation.

Soccer participation is placing stress on the existing sports fields. A sub-regional soccer facility is needed to meet demand and return local sports fields to a sustainable level of use.

The Monbulk Aquatic Centre provides only limited aquatic and leisure activities to the community.

The undulating topography and accessibility of the precinct is a barrier to recreation participation. It is therefore important to connect open spaces with the Main Street of townships and education institutions via safe on and off-road trail.

There is poor integration between the Monbulk Recreation Reserve, Monbulk Sports Precinct, Monbulk Living and Learning Centre, the Monbulk Primary School and with the main street.

Opportunities

Land has been purchased in Monbulk for the proposed Monbulk Soccer Centre to cater for soccer participation and the future growth of the sport in the south-west of the municipality. The site is subject to a planning amendment process.

Proceeding with the redevelopment of Monbulk Aquatic Centre will provide a greater range of aquatic, fitness and leisure activities to the Hills District.

The north of the precinct would benefit from greater diversity of open space.

A number of master plans have been prepared for major sports reserves and facilities and social recreation parks in the precinct. There is an opportunity to realise these plans through allocation of open space contributions in priority projects and by seeking funding grants.

The proposed Lilydale to Belgrave Trail along the Silvan Reservoir is an opportunity to extend the off-road trail network. A partnership with Parks Victoria may be possible if support for the concept can be obtained.

Partnerships with local sports clubs and schools may be available to manage the use of existing sports facilities and promote the connection of young people to local sport and recreation opportunities.

New partnerships with Parks Victoria and other open space managers investigating nature-based tourism in the precinct could be formed.

“ There is a need to improve the quality of existing open space in the precinct to provide more diverse recreation.”

Yarra Ranges Council Recreation and Open Space Strategy – Precinct Strategies Action Sheets Precinct I

Precinct I - Actions Council is acting to realise its planned development projects for the precinct in the following ways.

Implementing the Aquatic Facilities Strategic Review

• Monbulk Aquatic Centre: Promote usage of the redeveloped centre that now provides additional dry program activities, including gym and multipurpose rooms, and a program pool.

Implementing the Hike and Bike Strategy

• Silvan Reservoir: creation of off-road shared pathway linking Mt Evelyn to Monbulk and on to Belgrave.

• Road shoulders: sealing.

Constructing the Monbulk Soccer Centre

• Regional Soccer Strategy and Feasibility Study: construction of stage 1 of the proposed 4.5 field sub-regional soccer centre as per the recommendations.

• Construction of stage 2 at the end of existing lease on part of the land purchased for the development.

Other planned actions

• Monbulk Recreation Reserve: conduct a business case and master plan for pavilion.

• Monbulk site integration: exploration of the relationships between the Monbulk Recreation Reserve, Monbulk Sports Precinct, Monbulk Living and Learning Centre and Monbulk Primary School to achieve better integration between these sites.

• Social recreation parks: improvement of quality and diversity of recreation opportunities.

• Schools: exploration of partnerships to jointly use school sports reserves and facilities.

• Parks Victoria and other open space managers: exploration of partnerships to investigate nature-based tourism in the precinct.

Yarra Ranges Council Recreation and Open Space Strategy – Precinct Strategies Action Sheets Precinct I

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