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Feedback on a draft concept plan for Powlett Street Reserve
Thank you to everyone who shared their local knowledge and ideas to help shape the future of Powlett Street Reserve.
During the second round of consultation:
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56 people participated online or in-person
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93% were from Heidelberg and Heidelberg Heights
How your feedback influenced the final concept plan
What we heard |
Our response |
| More tree planting |
More trees have been added to the final concept plan. |
| Remove seating along the eastern path | Seating along the eastern path has been removed from the final concept plan. |
| More seating opportunities | More seating options will be considered during the detailed design stage. |
| Playground safety concerns | Fencing has been added around the playground to improve safety near nearby roads. |
| Concerns about the driveway servicing 16 Powlett Street |
Vehicle access has been retained, but materials and finishes will be considered during detailed design to reduce visual impact. |
What didn't change and why
Suggestion |
Reason |
| A dedicated fenced dog park |
The reserve is relatively small and a dedicated fenced dog park would reduce space available for other uses. Dogs can continue to use the reserve in accordance with Council's dog control requirements. |
| Relocating or removing the driveway | Vehicle access to 16 Powlett Street must be maintained. This location was chosen because it reduces impacts on the park, protects important trees and keeps construction costs lower. |
Learn more
Download the Engagement Findings Report to read the detailed engagement outcomes.
Download the Final Concept Plan to see the final design.
Concept Plan
The Plan is supported by $250,000 in funding secured by Banyule City Council through the Victorian Government's Pick My Park Program.
About the project
What we are doing
We're developing a detailed design for Powlett Street Reserve, guided by the Burgundy and Powlett Street Reserves Masterplan adopted by Council in 2018.
A lot has changed since we last heard from the community in 2017. More people are living in and around Heidelberg, and the population is expected to continue growing. As our community grows, it's important that our parks and open spaces continue to meet the needs of residents, workers and visitors.
The detailed design is an opportunity to build on previous community feedback and improve this important local space. The reserve needs to support a range of uses, including recreation, car parking, and safe walking and cycling connections, while serving a growing community in the heart of Heidelberg.
Powlett Street Reserve is in central Heidelberg, south of Burgundy Street, opposite the Austin Hospital and next to Warringal Cemetery on Darebin Street.
Right now, this land is classified as a ‘road reserve’. Council has asked the State Government to approve changing it to ‘public open space'.
Take a look around and get familiar with the space:
Powlett Reserve - The wide nature strip on the eastern side of Powlett Street, between Burgundy Street and Darebin Street (sometimes referred to as the Powlett Street Common).
Research show that green public spaces are very important for people’s physical and mental health. This is true in Australia and around the world (Banyule Public Open Space Plan 2016-2031).
Powlett Street Reserve is a valued 'green space' in the busy Heidelberg Precinct. Council wants to improve and look after this space into the future.
As more people move into the area and more residences are built, having easy access to good public open space will be even more important for community health and wellbeing. Research also shows that informal activity areas in parks help with social connection, play, and child development.
Council’s Public Open Space Plan technical report recommends that Powlett Street Reserve be officially classified as public open space and that a Masterplan be created. Council adopted this Masterplan in 2018.
Powlett Street Reserve is part of the Heidelberg Major Activity Centre (MAC). A Heidelberg Structure Plan for Heidelberg was developed and adopted by Council in 2023.
The Heidelberg MAC is one of 60 activity centres chosen by the State Government for its Activity Centres Program. Under this program, the government will set its own planning rules for these centres, including Heidelberg, to support its Housing Statement (September 2023).
View more details about the Heidelberg MAC and Structure Plan.
Many workers in the area use public open spaces during lunch to get a break from work, hospitals, and shops. Visitors to patients in Heidelberg’s hospitals also need easy-to-access open spaces for rest and comfort.
Council is under pressure to provide more usable public open space and improve walking connections in the area. Developing key open spaces in this precinct is a high priority for Council, while still keeping the area pleasant for residents and meeting local needs.
There isn’t much 'green space' in the Heidelberg Activity Centre for people to use as public open space.
Banyule’s Public Open Space Plan has identified this as a problem because the population is expected to grow and more residential blocks will be built. These residences will have little or no private outdoor space for residents. This means demand for public open space will keep increasing.
Stage 1 Engagement
Community engagement
From 1 February - 1 March 2026, 116 people shared their local knowledge to help inform the design for upgrades to Powlett Street Reserve, through an online survey, an interactive map and pop-up conversations.
Take a look below at some of the things we heard, or do a deeper dive by reading the Feedback Summary Report.
What we heard
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Relocation of playground and actve areas
The majority of respondents (64.6%) agreed with relocating the proposed playground and active areas to the southern end of the reserve.
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What you told us
- More drinking taps, seating, shade and bins
- More trees and plantings
- Improved accessibility throughout the reserve
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Community concerns
- Existing driveway access to 16 Powlett Street
- Antisocial behaviour
What can you influence?
- Relocation of the Reserve's active and passive spaces.
- Facilities and equipment to be included in improvement works.
- That there will be a detailed design implemented for Powlett Reserve.
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