Lake Lorne pathway

Background
Lake Lorne is a Crown Land Reserve, owned by the Department of Sustainability & Environment (DSE). The City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) acts as its Committee of Management and performs continuing asset management, e.g. removing weeds, revegetating areas and erecting new fences.

Stakeholders to date
• The City of Greater Geelong
• Local councillors (??)
• The Steam Preservation Society
• The Drysdale Pony Club
• Drysdale & Clifton Springs Community Association
• Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (for formal approval)
• Bellarine Little Athletics Club
• (Each of the 3 neighbouring schools ??)
• Residents (opposite the reserve)

Consultants
• Terraculture p/l (to prepare a Cultural Heritage Management Plan)
• Thompson Berrill Landscape Design (to prepare a Concept Plan, detailed designs & costs for the project)


Action to date
2007
July. The Drysdale & Clifton Springs Community Association (DCSCA) suggests that a pathway should be created around Lake Lorne and around McLeod's Waterholes.
August. CoGG asks DSE for advice; informs DCSCA that it has done so.

2008
April.
CoGG letter to DSE seeking consent to undertake the pathway project.
June.
Letter from DSE allowing the project to be investigated, subject to obtaining a Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
May-October.
CoGG holds meetings with members of the Steam Preservation Society & of the Drysdale Pony Club to discuss the project & seek consent to use part of the Steam Preservation Society land for the path.
September.
CoGG letter to Steam Preservation Society seeking its formal support.
October.
Steam Preservation Society Council states that it will survey the land to check that the fence follows the title boundary.
November.
CoGG letter to Vic Track seeking its consent to use the railway land.
CoGG invites tenders to prepare a Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
Survey found that title pegs & fence alignment do not match. CoGG letter to Steam Preservation Society stating this and also that the CoGG's preferrence is to leave the eastern section of the fence where it is and to move the remaining section 3m to the north (to facilitate construction of a pathway between the top of the embankment a new fence).
December.
CoGG appoints Terraculture p/l to prepare a Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

2009
February.
Dial Before You Dig searches show a Telstra line running through parts of the site. Service locaters mark the line.
Steam Preservation Society approves the proposal to move the boundary fence to facilitate construction of a pathway.
May.
CoGG discussions on-site with Terraculture p/l lead to agreement to the pathway being re-aligned in two places to avoid Aboriginal artefacts at the site.
October.
CoGG receives final Cultural Heritage Management Plan from Terraculture p/l. Copy sent to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria requesting its formal approval. (It has 30 days in which to respond.)
CoGG invites Thompson Berrill Landscape Design (Matt Bolton) to provide a quote for preparing a Concept Plan, detailed designs & costs for the project. (Quote will arrive within a week or so.)

Action proposed in late 2009
October.
On receipt of quote from Thompson Berrill, discuss whether/how to fund the Concept Plan and detailed designs. N. B. There is no dedicated budget for this project.
If funding is available, ask Thompson Berrill to prepare a draft Concept Plan.
November.
Discuss draft Concept Plan with stakeholders (Ward Councillors, Drysdale/Clifton Springs Community Association, Steam Preservation Society, Drysdale Pony Club, Bellarine Little Athletics Club, each of the 3 neighbouring schools).
If stakeholders agree with the draft Concept Plan, give copies of the draft Concept Plan to residents opposite the reserve.
Subject to agreement from all parties, CoGG officers will prepare a business case for CoGG funding.
December.
CoGG officers will prepare a budget request for funding.


Action proposed in 2010 - 2011
If CoGG agrees to fund the project, work can commence in the 2010 - 2011 financial year and the project can be promoted in the local media.