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It was informed by community consultation in 2022-23, followed by site investigations and feedback from project partners. This identified risks to the reservoir and surrounding catchment land, both currently closed to the public. The plan therefore focuses on the publicly-accessible park area, with other areas to be considered in later stages.
Read the draft plan
Melbourne Water has developed the draft Future Directions Plan with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Parks Victoria and the City of Whittlesea.
Download a copy below or view a summary of key elements:
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.
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.
The draft Future Directions Plan contains an overall plan for the area, as well as five visitor areas within the site:
Yan Yean Reservoir Park (overall area)
Revitalising Yan Yean Reservoir Park aims to connect key landscape assets for people of all abilities, by:
- building on the park’s rich heritage and culture
- enhancing key visitor experiences and moments unique to the park
- extensive revegetation to create a visual and habitat link between the established bushland at the north and south ends of the park.
Park Entry and Valve House Picnic Area
The current park entry point will be upgraded with new features that welcome visitors to a high-quality experience.
The Valve House Picnic Area offers opportunities for new or enhanced elements that improve access to a diversity of new and existing experiences, for a broad demographic of visitors.
Caretakers Picnic Area
The Caretakers Picnic Area provides a combination of considered enhancements to existing infrastructure and new interventions to:
- improve connection and accessibility within the area
- accommodate visitor groups of different sizes
- improve visitor engagement and sense of place using key landscape and heritage elements
- offer a focus for visitors seeking one of the park’s key viewing points across the water.
Yan Yean Bluff Picnic Area
The northern end of the dam is a key opportunity to celebrate strategic views across the water and looking south along the dam wall. There are two key vantage points: at the water’s edge, and on the ‘bluff’.
By realigning the fencing at water’s edge and providing a viewing deck, visitors will be able to enjoy this lower vantage point and connection to water. Reconfigured access connections will improve pedestrian connections and further enhance the visitor experience of this key area.
Pedestrian footpaths and a cycle link from the dam wall will establish this as a key connection point between the Caretakers Picnic Area and the area to the south.
Playground Picnic Area
The existing Playground Picnic Area offers opportunities for enhancing existing elements and new interventions that improve access to new and existing experiences within the park.
Connecting the walking trails and the enhanced wetland area will support a strong connection to the park’s biodiversity features.
Red Hill Picnic Area
The picnic area will be upgraded to provide diverse picnic experiences across the park, leveraging key views to the north across the reservoir.
Have your say
Share your thoughts on the Draft Future Directions Plan and the opportunities you value most, by Sunday 8 March 11.59pm.
Community pop-ups
Join us online or in person to hear about the draft plan and provide your input:
Friday 20 February, 10am-11.30am
Community information session #1
Brookwork Community centre
Unit 1/25 Hazel Glen Dr, Doreen VIC 3754
Sunday 22 February, 11am-2pm
Pop up #1 at Yan Yean Reservoir Park
Wednesday 25 February, 7pm-8.30pm
Community information session #3
Whittlesea Community Activity Centre
57/61 Laurel St, Whittlesea VIC 3757
Saturday 28 February, 11am-2pm
Pop-up #2 at Yan Yean Reservoir Park
Next steps
Once the Future Directions Plan is finalised, we’ll do further work to confirm the feasibility of its individual elements. These may be delivered over time, depending on budget and agreement on maintenance and management roles and responsibilities.
While we’ll make every effort 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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