Peppermint Gums Reserve Upgrade - Round 1 Consultation

Peppermint Gums Reserve is a park that is located at the corner of Dean Street and Barker Road, Prospect.

The Open Space Strategy identifies every park/reserve in our Council area and defines the priority parks for upgrades (see Key Documents). Peppermint Gums Reserve has been identified for an upgrade in the 2022/23 Financial Year.

It will be funded through Council’s Annual Business Plan for the 2022/23 Financial Year.

Any park furniture and services that are worthy of retention and have not reached their end-of-life will be retained. Existing trees that are healthy and don’t meet Council’s strict criteria for removal, will be retained. Some garden beds and vegetation will be retained, depending on community feedback and the new design of the park. Other feedback from this community consultation may also inform what will be retained.

The playground equipment has reached its end-of-life and will be removed. Any other park furniture not worthy of retention will be removed. Some vegetation (not trees) may be removed.

Park furniture and equipment is recycled where possible, including stripping various components for recycling where appropriate.

Any trees that are dead or dying and meet Council’s strict removal criteria will be removed. All other trees will be retained.

As this park is classified as a ‘neighbourhood’ park in Council’s Open Space Strategy, the play area will contain both junior and senior play elements. Other features of the park will be able to cater for all other age groups, depending on the feedback from the community consultation.

The consultation will influence the various components that will be installed as part of the upgrade, based on the way the community uses the space (eg. more lawn area, or more park furniture, or improved accessibility, or improved safety, etc).

Funds must be spent within the boundary of the reserve, up to the road kerbing, and including any murals on the Lewis Lane boundary walls.

The feedback will be summarised in an Engagement Report for Council and will inform a draft concept plan that will be prepared for the Reserve.

The upgrade will occur in the 2022/23 Financial Year.

The Annual Business Plan for the 2022/23 Financial Year is yet to be determined by Council. The final allocation of the funds will influence the design of the reserve and what we will be able to install. Council’s Open Space Strategy and Long Term Financial Plan will also influence the budget allocation. Grant funding availability will also influence the budget.

The only previous community engagement for this park was through the consultation process for the endorsement of the Open Space Strategy in March 2018.