Frankston Reservoir is an unknown treasure in the heart of Frankston South. A master plan for turning the reservoir into a public park is currently being developed, and your help is needed to make sure it is a park for the people.

Frankston Reservoir Public Consultation Meeting Poster

Frankston Reservoir Master Plan Summary Report

Frankston Reservoir Draft Master Plan.pdf

Water Management Plan.pdf

Site Photos 1.pdf

Site Photos 2.pdf

Site Analysis.pdf

Regional Context.pdf

Habitat Quality Assessment 1.pdf

Environmental Vegetation Classes.pdf

Conservation Significance.pdf

Weed Assessment.pdf



Introduction

A comprehensive master plan is being prepared for the Frankston Reservoir reserve. The master plan will recommend the appropriate agency to be responsible for ongoing park management. It will also provide a vision for the reserve, which potentially will encourage a number of targeted uses of the site, while protecting the environmental assets, and minimising the impact of public access and development on neighbouring households.

Site

The Frankston Reservoir occupies a 94 hectare site in Frankston South. This site is currently controlled and maintained by the Department of Sustainability and Environment. The reservoir is surrounded by 200 residential properties and provides links to other open space.

The water body covers about 10 hectares of the site. Frankston Reservoir has until recently primarily been fed from Melbourne's water catchments. As part of its program of replacing open storages in urban areas with enclosed tanks to protect water quality, Melbourne Water recently completed construction of a 53 megalitre tank.

Background

Following construction of the tank, in 2005, the Environment Minister commissioned a working group to undertake a study of the Frankston Reservoir site, to provide advice relevant to the future uses of the land within the Frankston Reservoir site. The Working Group reached general agreement in mid-2006 on a number of key points:

• The entire site (except for an area of up to eight hectares required by Melbourne Water for operational purposes) should be kept in public ownership
• Public access arrangements should respect the privacy and security rights of neighbours
• Native wildlife and vegetation on the site should be protected under any future management regime
• Retention of the water body
• A fire management plan is necessary

This project has taken into account the recommendations and information gathered through this process, and will provide further detail and direction to the management of this site. The successful implementation of this management plan relies on support from a broad cross-section of the community - local and municipal wide - as this would be a significant addition to the community's open space assets. Therefore, as stated in the Working Group Summary Report (August 2006), 'it will be important to engage the community in the detailed management planning process for the park, to ensure community ownership and pride in the park', for the successful transformation of an enclosed infrastructural space to a public asset.

Following the final community consultation in June, a report and recommendations will go to Council to consider the future of the proposed public park and its management agency.

Aim

To develop a comprehensive master plan for the Frankston Reservoir reserve which can guide the manager in achieving its ecological, educational, and recreational potential.

Project Co-ordination

Aspect Studio has been appointed as the consultant to develop the master plan, and a working group and steering/stakeholder group have been established to oversee the park planning process.

Communication

Over the course of developing the plan there have and will be a range of opportunities for the community to contribute. Anyone interested in registering to receive further information regarding the park plan should e-mail frankstonreservoir@frankston.vic.gov.au or contact David Gray on 9768 1555.