Ballarat has an open space network consisting of approximately 250 parks, reserves and public open spaces. The network provides different opportunities (recreational, social and environmental) for the community and is highly valued in different ways by the community.
The open space network has been identified across the City of Ballarat in two different ways: by Hierarchy, describing the access that the community has to different leveles of open space and by Category, which describes the function of open space.
The Crown or Council are primarily the owners of the City of Ballarat open space network, however the management responsibility of the open space network will primarily rest with various authorities including Parks Victoria, Ballarat City Council, Ballarat Environment Network, other environment and community (tenant) groups or the private sector (e.g Ballarat Showgrounds).
The Hierarchy is divided into both Hierarchy and Categories.
Hierarchy:
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Hierarchy of Open Space
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Number
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Example
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State
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1
|
Lake Wendouree
|
|
Regional
|
19
|
Ballarat – Skipton Rail Trail, Victoria
|
|
District
|
32
|
Learmonth Recreation Reserve, Winter Swamp Reserve
|
|
Neighborhood
|
78
|
Marks Reserve, Sanctuary Bushland Reserve
|
|
Local
|
84
|
Grant Street Linear Reserve, Summit Crescent Reserve
|
|
Other
|
46
|
Ballarat Showground’s, Phoenix Mall
|
Categories:
The Table below identifies the categories of the open space with some examples including the approximate number of open space areas within the municipality.
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Category of Open Space
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Number
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Example
|
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Recreation Parkland
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117
|
Vitoria Park, Len T. Frazer Reserve
|
|
Formal Parkland
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4
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Ballarat Botanical Gardens, Eureka Stockade Reserve.
|
|
Conservation Parkland
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7
|
James Reserve, Miners Rest Wetland.
|
|
Conservation (Bushland, Native Grassland and wetland)
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12
|
Mt Buninyoug, Canadian Forest
|
|
Linkage (Major)
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8
|
Yarrowee River Reserve, Ballarat Skipton Rail Trail
|
|
Linkage (Minor)
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10
|
Franklin Court Strip, The Horizon Linear Reserve.
|
|
Sport
|
26
|
CE Brown Reserve, City Oval
|
|
Special Use
|
26
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Llanberris Athletics Reserve, Ballarat Showgrounds.
|
|
Streetscape/Landscape Amenity
|
6
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Sturt Street Gardens, Lakeview Court Park.
|
|
Urban Space
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6
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Bridge Mall, Civic Hall Surrounds (Skate park)
|
|
Drainage
|
32
|
Lake Burumbeet, Grant Street Linear Reserve.
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Each open space area has been designated with a hierarchy and category label. Generally most open spaces can be classified with a single category that best describes their function and use. Where another function of the open space is identified as significant, a secondary category might also be assigned. For example, a sporting reserve that has a large area of passive open space around it that is used for play, picnics, etc, might be assigned Sport as a primary category and Recreation Parkland as a secondary category. For the purpose of this Strategy where all open space is categorised under these definitions for the first time, only a primary category has been designated.
For further details about the hierarchy and categories and function of the City of Ballarat open space network, click the link below.
Ballarat Open Space Strategy