We’ve heard rumours circulating online that equestrian access at Wesburn Park will be changed or reduced to provide more space for mountain biking in coming years.
This is not the case.
We spoke to the Wesburn community – including members of the Pony Club, Adult Riders Club and community members involved in horse riding – earlier this year, so we could start preparing a Draft Master Plan for the park.
This draft plan has not been completed yet, and we look forward to sharing the draft with the community later this year, for more consultation.
However, we want to make it clear that Council has no plans to reduce access to Wesburn Park for horse riders.
Wesburn Park has been a public park since the late-1800s and the equestrian community has used the park in different ways for most of its history.
This history is as important to us at Council as it is to the community, who have highlighted with us the need to ensure equestrian activities at Wesburn Park continue into the future.
While we’re looking at ways to better integrate mountain biking in Wesburn through the Master Plan conversations - to complement the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination project - we understand that this is a concern for people in the equestrian community, who worry about whether these activities will impact one another.
We’re looking at ways we can bring more recreation activities to Wesburn Park, while respecting the current use of the site, the clubs that call the park home and the people who have been passionate about this area for decades.
No decisions have been made about any changes to Wesburn Park, and the community will continue to be heavily involved in creating the Master Plan. We look forward to having more conversations about the future of the park when the draft is shared towards the end of the year, including direct conversations with user groups, including the Pony Club and Adult Riders Club.
In the meantime, we encourage community members to get in touch with our Recreation and Active Living Team on 1300 368 333 or at recreation@yarraranges.vic.gov.au, especially if they have questions or concerns about Wesburn Park that we can help address.
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