In 2020 Council endorsed the West Footscray Community Facilities Plan proposing significant upgrades to address the ageing assets and problematic ground conditions. With the residential population increasing, improvements to the reserves to cater for the existing and forecast growth were recommended in the Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy.
Following further engagement with the community in 2023 that reached 2,300 members of the community, the Shorten and Barrett Reserves Master Plan was endorsed at the August 2024 meeting.
This will see Market Street realigned to create a cycleable plaza, accommodate a senior cricket compliant sized oval, new cricket nets, and improved playground; and a second indoor court in a new RecWest Centre. The pavilion at Shorten Reserve will remain at its current location.
Changes influenced by community feedback include:
- Identifying the publicly accessible toilets on the Master Plan.
- Removal of references to parking along Essex Street, recognising no changes to parking conditions are proposed.
- Considering additional natural and built shade opportunities during detailed design.
- Deferring consideration of altering Graham Street.
You can learn more via the Engagement Summary Report
Government has committed $10 million to the project and money has also been allocated in Council’s Budget for 2024/25 to progress detailed design with a view to starting works in the next financial year.
You can also read the report to Council or view a livestream of the August Council meeting on our website.