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Camp Reserve 11 Forest St Castlemaine Planning Application PA077/2025

Please send your objections to the Mount Alexander Shire Council Now

How to submit:

Online: https://masc.t1clound.com/T1Default/CiAnywhere/Web/MASC/Public/LogOn/ONLINESERVICES

Email: info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Post: Planning Department – PO BOX 185, Castlemaine VIC 3450

Hand your objection over the counter Mt Alexander Shire Council public service desk

An objection must be made to Council in writing, include the reasons for the objection and state how the objector would be affected. If you object the responsible authority will tell you its decision.

HELP WITH WRITING YOUR OBJECTION BELOW

EXAMPLES OF BROAD BASED REASONS FOR OBJECTION

  • Economic implications for the future of the Shire
  • Impact on the heritage site and wider precinct
  • Neighbourhood amenity loss
  • Suburbanization
  • Poor community consultation
  • Not in accordance with Council policy
  • Tree loss of important remnant red gums, and other significant trees
  • Not multipurpose for wider community access

SPECIFIC MORE DETAILED TOPICS FOR OBJECTION

Large Old Trees Removal

I object to this new development of Camp Reserve PA077/2025 due to the unacceptable removal of large old trees, and it distresses me that the Shire proposes this tree loss.

Our Shire has a policy to protect large old trees, and the local heritage overlay specifically protects the trees in the Camp Reserve precinct. The two River Red Gums are essential to the character of the place. They provide continuity through the historic precinct. They are remnant vegetation. These trees provide hollows and habitat for birds and native fauna.

The English Elms are endangered.

The Peppercorn tree forms part of the character of the site and is a typical tree of the goldfields.

With changing climate, it is very difficult to replace large old trees with new landscape trees.

The Urban Tree Policy recognises that urban trees are highly valued due to the contribution they provide towards maintaining sustainability, amenity and community health and wellbeing. Although this Council promises, amongst other actions, to protect existing trees, to maintain canopy cover, and explore all management options prior to the recommendation for tree removal. this plan does not recognise these policy directives.

Summary of Objection

In summary, I believe this planning application has not considered other infrastructure positions that spare these trees. This application favours a built environment over the Camp Reserve’s natural environment. I object to this application.

Heritage Impact

  • I am dedicated to upholding the history and heritage of Castlemaine. Camp Reserve is recognized under the local heritage overlay HO 668 ‘Camp Reserve and Environs,’ which safeguards both its topography and trees due to their cultural value.
  • In accordance with the Heritage Act, there is an obligation to protect such sites. Public recognition of the site’s distinctive character—which predates the area’s sporting traditions—is steadily increasing. Of particular note, Camp Reserve served as the administrative centre for Victoria’s goldrush, commemorated by the cairn. The goldrush fundamentally changed Australia and the world.
  • As part of Castlemaine’s original site, Camp Reserve merits careful consideration. While some community members may minimize its relevance in favour of their own interests, its historical significance remains. The southern section—including the rocky slope historically used for the regiment’s horses and the lower slope with redgums—is especially important but faces considerable impact from the current planning application. This area is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register as an archaeological site, and the enduring trees form a visual corridor linking notable features such as the Survey Tree, Prisoner Tree, and others. Historic landscapes are defined by multiple layers, and the proposed development risks disrupting these elements.
  • The precinct’s topography, vegetation, and vistas contribute fundamentally to its historic integrity; any reduction threatens the overall value of the Government Camp Precinct.
  • It is my view that sports clubs can achieve their goals through a redesign that honours and enhances the Government Camp Heritage Precinct, thereby delivering improved outcomes for the broader community.

In conclusion

I consider the current planning application to be unnecessarily detrimental to an outstanding historic site.

ECONOMIC

  • Economic Impact: I object to my rates funding an expensive sporting complex in a known floodplain with unpredictable large repair bills. This is an unreasonable burden on ratepayers now and into the future.
  • Flooding Risk: The site is repeatedly subject to severe flooding, which is worsening with climate change. Each flood brings costly remediation, especially with e.coli (sewerage) site contamination, and this ongoing maintenance will strain the Shire’s capped budget. Just the daily maintenance of the facility will be an unacceptable burden. The Shire already struggles to meet the far lower current maintenance costs, how would it meet the far higher ones implicit in this plan.
  • Alternative Options: If the clubs have to have their own facility, sites without flooding, heritage or size constraints should be considered. However it is time for the sports communities to discuss collaboration, and share facilities like the extensive Wesley Hill Sports Complex, saving the rate payers’ money, and acknowledging the economic climate that we live in.
  • Community Space: Camp Reserve should be an unfenced, informal green space, better suited to handle floods at minimal maintenance and repair cost, avoiding the financial liability of a new build formal sporting complex.

Summary of Objection

In summary, the planning application is financially irresponsible and my rates can be better used elsewhere. I object to the immediate and ongoing expenses involved, and the risk that this poses to the viability of our Shire.

NEIGHBOURHOOD AMENITY

I object to the proposed development at Camp Reserve, PA077/2025, because it would have an unacceptable impact on the amenity of the neighbourhood. The changes outlined in the application pose several concerns for residents and the broader community.

Noise, Lights, Traffic and Visual Impact

The new placement of the clubrooms and pavilion complex is problematic because it will bring the burden of day and night clubroom event noise, bottle bin noise, and rubbish collection noise closer to the homes on Gingell St. These houses are already situated close to the street, and noise issues have been poorly managed in the current facility layout. With the clubrooms positioned at the western Gingell St boundary, this problem will only become worse.

The revised plan doubles the netball area and places it directly against the Forest St boundary. Netball courts have no organic character.  The lighting towers, spectator boxes and surrounding cage fencing associated with this development are unsightly and the resulting artificial light will be intrusive, replacing the gentle outlook of large, established trees.

Increasing the size of the sports complex will inevitably lead to more traffic in the neighbourhood and exacerbate parking issues for residents. The development will alter the existing views for residents around Camp Reserve. Instead of the traditional rural green space, residents will be faced with views of the rear service areas of a modern sports complex and caged netball courts.

Summary of Objection

I believe this planning application will negatively impact the neighbourhood amenity for residents by increasing noise, light pollution, traffic, and diminishing the visual character of the area. This plan represents a loss for the neighbourhood, with no gain.

AGAINST COUNCIL’S OWN POLICY

The plans are not supported by Council’s own policies

How this Application affects me. I am a rate payer with concerns about our climate impact and Council’s financial sustainability. I do not support this application because it contradicts Council’s own policies.

The Resourcing Recreation Strategic Framework requires facilities to be:

  • Multi use and can support shared use. The proposed plan, apart from the social room, is dedicated only to team sport use. A more flexible design would allow for other community uses and could support the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan aim of increasing active living.
  • Planned with a collaborative approach. This facility will duplicate other facilities in close proximity, such as Wesley Hill. A more collaborative approach and joint governance could lead to an increased sharing of facilities, reducing the need, for example, of two netball courts
  • Financially responsible. There is no business case outlining the expected financial contributions both in the construction or ongoing maintenance, so how can Council move forward with this project until the business case is at least drafted?

The Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (MPHWP) requires that all new infrastructure and upgrades increase canopy cover and UV protective shading, and this plan removes canopy cover and offers no more shading.

The MPHWP also wants to improve current cool spaces and co-design resilience hubs and cooling centres with at risk groups. Surely a new building of this size and expense should take this into account. Rather than calling it a stadium or sports centre it should be considered a resilience hub that also meets sporting needs.

In addition, the MPHWP seeks to reduce the harm from alcohol and drug use, yet the current practice of associating alcohol with sport will continue. Given building, as planned, will rely on good behaviour by the facility users to stop noise impacting on neighbours, any approved planning permit needs to include rules around noise and alcohol consumption in order to meet the MPHWP objectives

The Climate Change Strategy requires that:

  • Council delivers water sensitive urban design… This is not demonstrated in this plan.
  • Council delivers to increase canopy cover… This plan removes trees.
  • Council owned buildings, assets and infrastructure are resilient and built for future climate. The plan for this facility does not identify the heat conditions that it must withstand in the expected life of the building.

The Urban Tree Policy recognises that urban trees are highly valued due to the contribution they provide towards maintaining sustainability, amenity and community health and wellbeing. Although this Council promises, amongst other actions, to protect existing trees, to maintain canopy cover, and explore all management options prior to the recommendation for tree removal. this plan does not recognise these policy directives.

In summary, Council should not proceed with this project until it complies with Council strategies, policies and plans.

Community Consultation and Access

I object to the Camp Reserve plan because the community was not properly and fairly consulted. The plan is a user specific dedicated facility that excludes the wider community. This scope of works and cost should result in a building with spaces that are multi-use for the many community groups within the Shire.

Consultation Process was Flawed

1.Lack of public meetings 2.Holding of consultation at the facility hosted by footballers and advocates for the scheme rather than in a neutral setting  3.The council was not accepting feedback regarding placement of the proposed infrastructure 4.While the majority of feedback opposed the Masterplan, the plan was still progressed

Summary of objection

In summary, I believe this planning application is inappropriate for our wider community, giving dedicated access to a small sporting segment of community, and at the same time, permanently spoiling an asset which the community has enjoyed for generations as a versatile relaxed green space.

Over Suburbanization

I object to the Camp Reserve PA077/2025 development proposal because it would introduce excessive suburban design features to an area that holds significant cultural value and forms a key part of Castlemaine’s historic identity. The character of this place is unique and should be protected from over-development that diminishes its historical importance.

Surfaces and Textures

The proposed project threatens to replace Camp Reserve’s rural character with contemporary suburban elements that do not respect the historical context of the area. In contrast, nearby Goldsmith and Camp Crescents will continue to feature their unmade, organic streets, which are in keeping with the area’s established character. The proposed plan would stand out as incongruent with the surroundings.

The development plan is reminiscent of inner-city projects, which undermines the rural feel of the locality. If there is a genuine need for a modern sports precinct, it would be more appropriate to construct it on a greenfield site, rather than compromising the integrity of this historic reserve.

Summary of Objection

In summary, the proposed plan conflicts with the established character of the historic precinct and amounts to excessive suburbanisation. The planning scheme overlay explicitly states that suburbanisation must be avoided in this precinct, reinforcing the importance of preserving the unique neighbourhood heritage and rural character.