By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
The Cardinia Shire Council is facing some backlash after announcing just two days for the community to provide feedback on the draft plans for Puffing Billy Place Reserve in Emerald – this has raised eyebrows among local residents, especially with the consultation being scheduled right in the middle of school holidays.
The Council recently revealed a draft masterplan for the redevelopment of Puffing Billy Place Reserve, which includes upgrades to the playground and surrounding parkland.
The aim is to re-energise the space, attract more visitors, and improve the connection between the reserve and the nearby town centre for locals and tourists alike.
However, the way the Council has approached the consultation process has left some residents questioning whether they are being given a fair opportunity to have their say.
While the first round of community feedback helped shape the draft plans, the feedback period for this next round of consultation was announced with little notice – only two days after the plans were made public.
To make matters worse, the first public session to discuss the draft will fall during the school holidays, which many believe will make it harder for families and regular park users to participate.
Even though the consultation period runs until 18 May, the timing of the initial feedback window and the school holiday sessions has caused frustration for some in the community, who feel that they won’t be able to fully engage in the process.
The draft masterplan proposes several changes to Puffing Billy Place Reserve, including the upgrade of playground equipment, the addition of new park furniture, and improved accessibility.
The aim is to create a more lively, welcoming space for people of all ages, as well as better connect the park with the town centre. However, the finer details of these changes – like which types of park furniture or playground designs will be selected – are still up for discussion and need input from locals.
For those interested in sharing their thoughts, the Council hosted a pop-up session at Puffing Billy Train Playground in Emerald on Wednesday 9 April 2025 from 1-3pm. The next pop-up session will be held on Tuesday 6 May 2025 from 3-5pm.
Residents of Cardinia Shire Council can also complete a short online survey or request a hardcopy through the Council.
General manager of Community and planning services, Debbie Tyson, responded to the concerns.
“We understand the importance of ensuring our community has a chance to be heard on community engagement projects especially with a space as well-loved and well-used as Puffing Billy Reserve,” she said.
“This project is open for an extended consultation period of 6 weeks, and we encourage community members to provide comment on the proposed design of the reserve through the various ways including, attending a pop-up session, completing the short online survey on the Creating Cardinia website, requesting a hardcopy of the survey via mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au or contacting Council on 1300 787 624.”
Once the final masterplan is approved, it will guide the future development of the park. But for many residents, the real question is whether the plans will truly reflect the community’s needs, especially given the rushed consultation period.
For more details or to provide feedback, visit the Council’s project page here, creating.cardinia.vic.gov.au/puffing-billy-park-emerald.
