Council has undertaken key open space improvements along our waterways (in collaboration with agencies such as Melbourne Water, Moonee Valley City Council, Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek, Friends of Merri Creek, Friends of Edgards Creek and Merri Creek Management Committee). These projects have far-ranging benefits, such as improved creek health and biodiversity as well as improving the quality of our open space. An example is the Reimagining Moonee Ponds Creek Project, whereby concrete parts of Moonee Ponds Creek are being reimaged to create a more appealing Creek environment, improved waterway quality and much improved open space.

Council recognises the need for children to have access to a variety of play experiences and creative play spaces in the outdoor, natural world. The Merri-bek 2016-2020 Play Strategy identified that play using natural materials (stone, soil, leaves, plants), waterways, shade as well as formal playgrounds, is important to for children’s learning, health, and wellbeing. Whilst Merri-bek has an established network of playgrounds, it has been identified that creative play, such as play using natural materials (stone, soil, leaves, plants), may be lacking. The strategy will explore these facilities and our overall open space facilities for children, including our playgrounds.

The Merri-bek Nature Plan, Merri-bek Urban Forest and Merri-bek Integrated Water Management (IWM) Strategies, together recognise the importance of protecting and enhancing nature, biodiversity, and our waterways in Merri-bek. These strategies greatly align with planning and enhancing our open space, as our waterways and key biodiversity and nature is largely within open spaces areas.

Council has undertaken key open space improvements along our waterways (in collaboration with agencies such as Melbourne Water, Moonee Valley City Council, Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek, Friends of Merri Creek, Friends of Edgards Creek and Merri Creek Management Committee). These projects have far-ranging benefits, such as improved creek health and biodiversity as well as improving the quality of our open space. An example is the Reimagining Moonee Ponds Creek Project, whereby concrete parts of Moonee Ponds Creek are being reimaged to create a more appealing Creek environment, improved waterway quality and much improved open space.

Council is also proactively increasing shade, tree coverage and biodiversity in the municipality via the Merri-bek Urban Forest Strategy and Nature Plan. The Urban Forest Strategy has a vision to transform Merri-bek into a municipality where healthy trees and vegetation are a core part of our urban environment. It aims to double tree canopy cover across Merri-bek. Concurrently, the Nature Plan provides strategic direction to enhance biodiversity and celebrate nature in our municipality. This includes projects such as community planting days, supporting Bush Kinder and early years nature engagement programs, and space for wildlife in the private and Council realm.

The Merri-bek Climate Risk Strategy describes how Council will proactively plan for and respond to the inevitable impacts of climate change. Our Merri-bek Climate Risk Vision is that, by 2030:

• Council competently, accountably, and responsively manages climate risk
• Merri-bek is climate-resilient, leafy and liveable
• Merri-bek is a climate-ready and resilient community with no one left behind.

We need to ensure our open space is resilient in the face of climate change and climate risk. This includes our parks being resilient during the la Niña wet weather patterns which typically have increased rainfall and flooding events, as well as being resilient during El Niño periods which typically have lower rainfall and potential drought. Furthermore, we recognise that our open space serves as a place of respite during events such as heat waves.

The new Open Space Strategy will explore how our open spaces align and promote this vision. This may include specific exploration of actions such as how can our open spaces are responding to climate change and specific climate risks, and how our open spaces continue to provide ecosystem services such as shade, water retention and cool transit corridors.

The new open space strategy will continue to align our focus on nature and waterways with, and within, our open spaces. The strategy will also explore both Council owned and maintained land as well as privately owned and managed lands (such as the Northern Golf Course, Fawkner Memorial Park and schools) and their important role in promoting and enhancing local nature and biodiversity in our private open spaces.