Council is pleased to share four reports from a project jointly commissioned by the Kentish and Latrobe Councils.
These documents will help shape the future development of Councils open spaces and includes:
- Open Space, Sport and Recreation Plan, Final Report;
- Open Space, Sport and Recreation Plan, Summary Report;
- Open Space Master Plans, Final Report; and
- Cycling and Shared Use Trails Plan.
The Open Space, Sport and Recreation Plan is an overarching planning framework to guide Latrobe and Kentish Councils decision-making process in providing open spaces, sport and recreation facilities. It is designed as a tool to assist the Councils in assessing, developing and managing open spaces, sport and recreation facilities so that they deliver the full range of ‘liveability’ benefits to community.
The Plan has involved extensive research and an engagement process with community. It provides:
- An evidence base that has informed a vision for open spaces, sport and recreation facilities in Latrobe and Kentish Councils together with strategic directions and recommendations on how to achieve the vision.
- An open space planning framework to inform the provision and design of open spaces, sport and recreation facilities.
- An action plan with a prioritised set of site-specific recommendations.
- A cycling and shared pathway infrastructure plan.
- Preliminary master plans for specific open space sport and recreation sites. These plans will be used to help inform future engagement and design processes.
The scope of this Strategy does not include swimming pools, halls, school facilities and private sports facilities. These have only been considered in terms of provision but not in terms of a recommendation.
The Strategy identifies periodic reviews to consider the outcomes of planning and funding processes and ensure that any emerging community and industry trends/demands, as well as external funding opportunities and Council funding capacity, are assessed and priority.
The Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy includes a planning framework that has been applied to the open space network. The planning framework includes design standards for local, district and regional open spaces based on the functions they deliver for community including:
- Sports Fields and Organised Recreation
- Parks and Gardens
- Recreation Trail Corridors
- Civic Squares and Promenades
- Nature Conservation Reserves.
The Master Plan report applies the design standards to nine open space reserves. These sites were identified by Latrobe Council and Kentish Council following an extensive site review and community engagement process. The master plans will help inform community engagement and design processes. Following these processes the Councils will consider future investment into recommended improvements. These projects are currently unfunded and will require external funding.
The Cycling and Shared Use Tails Plan will guide the development of a connected cycling and shared use trail network that:
- Fosters walkable and cyclable communities in Latrobe and Kentish townships.
- Encourages the community and visitors to experience the unique Latrobe and Kentish natural environments and landscapes through trail-based nature-based recreation and tourism activities.
Council welcomes community comment on these four reports up until the 5th of January 2026.
Submissions should be addressed to the General Manager and either posted to PO Box 63, LATROBE TAS 7307 or emailed to submissions@latrobe.tas.gov.au