The plan was developed following community consultation in 2022 and 2023. This focused on the publicly accessible reservoir park, as well as the water body and broader catchment land currently closed to the public.

Subsequent site investigations and project partner feedback identified a number of risks, which could harm the inherent values of the reservoir and its catchment if not properly managed. This led to a decision to focus phase 1 on the existing, publicly accessible Yan Yean Reservoir Park area.

The draft Future Directions Plan is informed by the need to balance recreation, the site’s cultural values, environmental protection and community safety – while maintaining its function providing Melbourne with world-class drinking water.

In February 2026 we’ll be seeking your input on how well the draft Future Directions Plan reflects earlier feedback, whether it needs any refinement, and what opportunities you value most.

‘Follow’ this webpage to be notified by email when formal consultation opens. In the meantime, you can also submit a question or comment.

Read the draft plan

Melbourne Water has prepared the draft Future Directions Plan in collaboration with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Parks Victoria and the City of Whittlesea.

The plan articulates a vision to improve the visitor experience at Yan Yean Reservoir Park, and guide its development as a valued regional recreation and open space destination for the community over the next 50 years and beyond.

It contains an overall plan, as well as high-level plans to upgrade five distinct visitor areas within the site:

  • Yan Yean Reservoir Park (overall area)
  • Park Entry and Valve House Picnic Area
  • Playground Picnic Area
  • Yan Yean Bluff Visitor Area
  • Caretakers Picnic Area
  • Red Hill Picnic Area

The draft FDP will create a space for the community in Yan Yean Reservoir Park that celebrates cultural, environmental, heritage and water supply values by:

  • acknowledging the ongoing connection and custodianship of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people
  • safeguarding the reservoir’s role as a water source
  • protecting the site’s cultural and environmental values
  • enhancing existing and creating new recreational opportunities
  • raising awareness of and connection to the site’s cultural, environmental, heritage and water values.

The following guiding principles test and ground the visitor experience:

  • protect Melbourne’s world class drinking water
  • enhance community health and wellbeing
  • protect and enhance cultural values
  • protect and enhance biodiversity
  • protect and enhance heritage
  • protect and enhance landscape values
  • promote research, education and an engaged community.

Strategic directions have been developed for each of the principles. These provide a framework for both the high-level and detailed directions included in the plan.

These principles can be distilled into three overarching categories:

  • enhance environmental values and sustainability
  • enhance cultural and heritage significance
  • enhance community connection and wellbeing.

Opportunities to be considered

The draft Future Directions Plan contains a range of recreational opportunities, including new and upgraded:

  • walking trails
  • picnic/barbecue and gathering spaces
  • playground facilities
  • wetland restoration and viewing points
  • cultural interpretation/education
  • cycling connections
  • improved access and parking
  • upgraded toilet facilities
  • revegetation and habitat enhancement
  • upgraded park entry
  • upgraded/repurposed Caretakers Cottage
  • multiple lookouts/viewing areas to capture water views
  • bird hides.

Opportunities for further investigation

Recreation opportunities that need further investigation include:

  • fishing
  • on-water activities
  • boating.

Project partners do not support making any decision on shoreline fishing, on-water fishing or on-water boating until more detailed risk and feasibility assessments have been completed, and there is assurance that the inherent values can be protected and the required water quality standards can be met.

Opportunities to be prohibited

Recreation opportunities that continue to be prohibited include:

  • petrol-powered boating
  • swimming
  • mountain biking.

These opportunities are not supported due to the reservoir’s important role for water supply, safety considerations and conflict with other park uses.

Project partners favour a staged approach, where we focus on improving the existing Yan Yean Reservoir Park now as phase 1. Once improvements to this area are delivered and operating well, we will consider expanding our focus to the more sensitive areas (Northern and Southern Extension Precinct and Reservoir Water Body), pending further studies on impacts and feasibility.

No formal decision has been made on the specific proposals in the draft FDP, but it does identify elements supported by project partners for further investigation and feasibility testing. These are in line with the site’s primary function as a water supply catchment, and recommendations from the cultural values, environmental risk and traffic assessments.

Next steps

Once the Future Directions Plan is finalised, we’ll undertake further work to confirm the feasibility of its individual components. Feasible elements may be progressively delivered, subject to budget confirmation and agreement on maintenance and management roles and responsibilities.

While we will make every endeavour to implement the plan, there is no guarantee it will be delivered in its entirety. Any elements deemed unfeasible will not be progressed.

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