Land (Reserves) Act for the council to produce was not possible to track financial information separate financial reports for the committee of between different council publications (e.g. management. proposed and adopted budgets). Involvement of others Local community interests Environmental interests Traditional owners User/sports groups There was strong support for There was a view that There was a consensus that more The various user groups consulted improved community environmental interests were not needs to be done to include stated that their experience in input into the management well managed by council. This is traditional owners in the dealing with MRSC as manager of and operations decisions that due to a number of perceptions: management of the Reserve. It the land was good. While some affect Hanging Rock. Most people (a) that the Reserve is managed was recognised that traditional groups had been disappointed with this view thought that this within the recreation division interests are conceptually that more of their needs had not owners’ would be achieved through an within council rather than the different to other interests (which been met, they recognised that enhanced advisory committee, or environmental division, (b) that the focus on use of the site) while also their needs are part of broader moving to a community-based staff who work at the Reserve are needing to be embedded within all priorities within the Reserve, and committee of management. not adequately trained in other activities. An example was were happy about the way they environmental skills, (c) that the way in which council had were able to engage with council, environmental interests are not involved traditional owners in the either through the Development adequately represented on the minor works done in the East Advisory Committee or directly development advisory committee, Paddock to support concerts. with council staff. (d) that there is not sufficient It is not clear at this stage what coordination across environmental type and extent of involvement of planning, projects and activities on traditional owners is preferred. All the site. stakeholders acknowledged that MRSC noted that a site any options going forward would environmental management plan need to be able to incorporate this is under development that would involvement, which could change better incorporate these interests. over time. There was widespread support that better information about traditional owners was required on the Reserve.
Land (Reserves) Act for the council to produce separate financial reports for the committee of management. was not possible to track financial information between different council publications (e.g. proposed and adopted budgets). Involvement of others Local community interests Environmental interests Traditional owners User/sports groups There was strong support for improved community input into the management and operations decisions that affect Hanging Rock. Most people with this view thought that this would be achieved through an enhanced advisory committee, or moving to a community-based committee of management. There was a view that environmental interests were not well managed by council. This is due to a number of perceptions: (a) that the Reserve is managed within the recreation division within council rather than the environmental division, (b) that the staff who work at the Reserve are not adequately trained in environmental skills, (c) that environmental interests are not adequately represented on the development advisory committee, (d) that there is not sufficient coordination across environmental planning, projects and activities on the site. MRSC noted that a site environmental management plan is under development that would better incorporate these interests. There was a consensus that more needs to be done to include traditional owners in the management of the Reserve. It was recognised that traditional owners’ interests are conceptually different to other interests (which focus on use of the site) while also needing to be embedded within all other activities. An example was the way in which council had involved traditional owners in the minor works done in the East Paddock to support concerts. It is not clear at this stage what type and extent of involvement of traditional owners is preferred. All stakeholders acknowledged that any options going forward would need to be able to incorporate this involvement, which could change over time. There was widespread support that better information about traditional owners was required on the Reserve. The various user groups consulted stated that their experience in dealing with MRSC as manager of the land was good. While some groups had been disappointed that more of their needs had not been met, they recognised that their needs are part of broader priorities within the Reserve, and were happy about the way they were able to engage with council, either through the Development Advisory Committee or directly with council staff.
Hanging-Rock-Review-Report.docx