Land Management Plan
The Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Land Management Plan is shaped around aspirations to create vibrant, inclusive and accessible public spaces for diverse communities.
We are at a pivotal moment to begin realising the full potential of the Reserve, consistent with its three purposes – racing, recreation and a public park.
The Reserve of the future will be a place for everyone, and the Land Management Plan reflects what we have heard from our community and stakeholders, capturing their diverse needs and uses.
More than $500 million in projects and initiatives are highlighted, including brand new facilities for organised sports and recreation, spaces to connect with nature, attend community and cultural events as well as continuing to preserve the racing experience.
The plan will be used to provide guidance and direction to meet the needs of the community now, and into the future.
The high-level projects and initiatives for each area are summarised below
Access and Movement through the Reserve
- Easier access to the Reserve’s vast open space with two new tunnels and improved access points for vehicle, pedestrians, and cyclists to enter.
- Parking for 1,200 cars – below or partially underground
- Improved amenities
- Improved fencing
Open Space and Recreation
- A new sports hub featuring turf and synthetic sports fields, an indoor stadium, club room, change facilities and café
- A walking / running / cycling trail around the perimeter of the Reserve.
- Depot below ground
- Car parking below synthetic pitch
- Separation of pedestrian and cars
Landscape, Environment and Resilience
- Protect areas for social recreational uses
- Upgrades to lake / wetland
- Create an indigenous heath
- Climate resilience and improved biodiversity
- Efficient energy use and systems
Culture, Community and Events
- Spaces for events of different scales, including a stage pavilion for concerts
- Community garden
- Community park
- Indoor community areas and nature-based play to engage children
- Nature based play element
The Digital Experience
- Wi-Fi connectivity throughout
- Digital signage
- Digital platform to communicate events and access times, as well as sharing experiences.
The Racing Experience
- Preservation and enhancement of the racing experience
- Upgrades to existing amenities and build new facilities and landscapes for use during events.
- Adequate parking to support race attendance.
What’s Changed?
Significant improvements have been made to the plan following an extensive public engagement process that resulted in more than 200 pieces of feedback offered on the draft plan.
A summary of the key topics and changes is below.
The community was concerned about too much concrete and want the space to be architecturally stylish/designed
The Land Management Plan (LMP) seeks to minimise the areas of paving / hardstand with car parking located below grade to maximise the open space for the community
There was support to include how heritage buildings and trees will be protected
Heritage is celebrated across the whole reserve and will be considered in the detailed design stages. The Trust will work with Council to ensure appropriate controls are in place.
The community told us they wanted more celebration and recognition of traditional owners
The Trust has met with traditional owners and will work with Coucnil and the VPA on a precinct / landscape scale and furhter engagement with the traditional owners will take place as a next step
The community supported off leash dog areas
The LMP recognises the importance of dog on lead, off lead and dog exclusion areas and this will be reviewed and defined in reviewing the regulations
The community wanted to know how will competing interests for access to the Reserve be managed? i.e. active sports and racing
An Access Management Plan will be developed to manage timetabling
The community was concerned about the allocation of passive vs active recreation areas.
The LMP addresses spaces allocated for passive vs active recreation, and the need for balance.
There was concern to ensure that sporting clubs don't restrict use of areas
The LMP recognises the need to minimise exclusivity, ensuring the Reserve landscape and facilities are designed to optimise ‘shared-use’ throughout the week.
The community wanted more focus to be put on improvements over the next 3 years
The LMP includes a focus and detail on early wins to improve access and activation.
There was support for a financial plan to demonstrate how the promised improvements will be phased and funded.
The LMP includes an outline of proposed governance as well as a summary of the Trust’s decision making criteria, timing and staging. A detailed business case will be developed to inform funding streams. The Trust has already facilitated an Expression of Interest for partners and will undertake an RFP process to commence bringing the plan to life.
There was support for a clear implementation plan, including funding, staging and management
The LMP outlines an implementation plan and includes proposed governance, management, funding and staging
There was support for the LMP to align with other plans being developed in the area including Caulfield Station Precinct Sructure Plan and Glen Huntly Structure Plan
The Trust has sought to ensure alignment with the planning underway in the area and will continue to work closely with stakeholders including Council and the Victorian Planning Authority.
The community supported to retain established access and increase use of the racing tracks
An Access Management Plan will be developed to ensure the track can be maintained in a safe and appropriate standard for racing while continuing to allow community use.
There was support for the heritage of racing
While recognising the significance of racing, the LMP is shaped around vibrant, inclusive and accessible public spaces for diverse communities.
The community wanted to ensure that there are active transport and pedestrian links throughout the Reserve
The LMP shows the preferred urban design outcomes for the connections through the Reserve, to the future upgraded Caulfield Station and the MRC freehold land.
The community was concerned about increased traffic and movement around the Reserve
A Parking and Traffic Management Plan is recommended to be developed as an early delivery project, delivered jointly with precinct partners. The plan will provide guidance on how parking is to be managed on race days, non-race days and event and including access to taxis, ride share and links to public transport.
There was support for environment and sustainablilty outcomes
The Trust will develop policies and approaches to maximise the opportunities to protect and enhance the environment through actions within the Reserve and across the precinct. The Trust will also be collaborating with Melbourne University to ensure the Reserve achieves positive water, energy, waste and sustainability outcomes.
The community wanted shade to be provided and canopy trees
The opportunities for tree canopy have been considered and will be maximised while maintaining and ensuring sightlines for racing.
There was concern over the reduction of water storage on site
An integrated water plan is to be developed for the site to ensure a contemporary approach to water storage, capture and use is considered at the Reserve.
Privacy
Submissions, comments and personal information that were collected as part of the draft Land Management Plan public consultation may be made publicly available.
Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust collects and uses any personal information provided for the intended purpose only and this information is only accessed by persons authorised to do so. Personal information is dealt with in accordance with the National Privacy Principles
Next Steps
We need your support to bring our vision to life.
With an estimated total investment of $278M of community infrastructure (plus additional investment of $285M of racing infrastructure from the MRC) the Trust is now focused on bringing together partners including sporting organisations, business and all levels of government to ensure each project is brought to life and meets shared needs and goals.
One precinct, one vision
