A master plan for Koonung Creek Reserve is being developed as a collaboration between the North East Link Program (NELP) and Council.

We will be looking for your feedback on key features of the draft master plan and expect to open this consultation from late-April 2023. You can select ‘Follow’ at the top of this page to receive updates on this consultation and when consultation opens.

Our work so far

Council’s aim is to ensure our community’s views about the Koonung Creek Reserve are heard and included in the master plan.

In late-2021, NELP awarded the Spark consortium the contract to deliver the central (tunnel) works package of the NEL. Spark released an Urban Design Landscape Plan (UDLP) for public exhibition in May 2022. This UDLP included the western third of Koonung Creek Reserve.

We made a submission to Spark’s UDLP on behalf of Boroondara residents. We ran our own consultation to make sure our community’s views about the future of the Koonung Creek Reserve were included in our submission to Spark’s UDLP.

The feedback we received from our community through our consultation is also helping to shape the draft master plan for the Koonung Creek Reserve

What we heard

Through our consultation in May 2022, you told us that the Koonung Creek Reserve is important for the variety of activities it offers, and for the positive effect it has on our community’s health and wellbeing.

You told us the most common reasons you use the Koonung Creek Reserve are:

  • walking the Koonung Creek Trail
  • walking on informal paths and in open space
  • dog walking (on and off leash)
  • playing and relaxing in the open space
  • nature-based activities (like bird watching)
  • recreational cycling.

When asked for ideas about what you wanted the reserve to look and feel like after the NEL works, you told us you would like to see:

  • green open spaces
  • biodiversity and a natural environment
  • a variety of recreation areas, including more spaces for children and teenagers
  • better lighting to improve the perception of safety
  • separate cycling and walking paths.

Over 80% of those who answered the survey told us they prefer mode separated walking and cycling paths instead of shared paths. As a response, our submission to Spark’s UDLP strongly advocates for mode separated paths.

You also told us the facilities that were important to you include:

  • the playground
  • the public toilet at the playground.

We heard that having toilets in the reserve increases the amount of time people can spend there, and that the playground is an important community asset and meeting place for families.