Information and updates about the implementation of actions in the Malone Park Master Plan.
The Malone Park Master Plan was adopted in June 2022. It sets out the strategic long-term vision for Malone Park to guide investment priorities and cater for Marong's growing population.
Marong is one of Greater Bendigo's growth areas with a four-fold increase in population to 8,000 predicted in coming years by the City's Marong Structure Plan. It's important for the City to plan for this growth to ensure Marong has the necessary infrastructure it needs to strengthen community interaction and provide opportunities for residents to lead healthy lifestyles.
With the Master Plan now complete, a long-term staged implementation program for the delivery of the community-supported actions will ensure realistic and sustainable delivery of projects at the reserve.
Updates
New scoreboard
A new scoreboard has been constructed at the main oval with colour LED display, remote wireless operation, inbuilt siren, HDMI connectable, and security features, including electronic roller shutters.
This scoreboard was commissioned by the City to replace the old scoreboard that was decommissioned in 2023.
Closing the western entrance to Malone Park
We’re closing the western entrance to Malone Park to vehicles to improve pedestrian safety and traffic management. The changes will include the installation of vehicle barriers and signage.
Community consultation for the Master Plan highlighted the need for review of road layout and car parking to improve safety, amenity, and vehicle control (including speed), as a high priority for the community.
Changes to the western entrance was identified as a medium priority action (Ref: ID#9) through the community consultation undertaken as part of the development of the Malone Master Plan.
The City proposes closing the existing entrance off Calder Alternative Highway to vehicles and installation of vehicle barriers to prevent through traffic whilst retaining pedestrian and emergency vehicle access.
These changes are part of a holistic approach to addressing traffic and parking considerations at Malone Park, and additional measures are proposed in the Master Plan to be implemented over the long-term.
Planning for infrastructure
The City is commencing site due diligence to inform further planning for infrastructure as proposed in the Master Plan.
Surveying of existing conditions will determine locations of underground services, buildings and structures, and title boundaries.
Geotechnical soil testing will determine soil classification and identity likelihood of contamination and recommendations for future remediation or containment works if required.
About Malone Park
Managed by the City of Greater Bendigo, Malone Park is Marong’s main recreation reserve.
Set on a large 20 hectare Crown Land site, Malone Park features a range of sports facilities, a children's playground, picnic area and extensive areas of bushland and grassy areas, including the Bullock Creek which runs through the park and provides opportunities for recreation and relaxation.
The reserve has three entrances and can be accessed from Calder Alternative Highway, Malone Park Road and Salvarezza Road. It is bordered by new residential developments and in close proximity to the Marong Primary School and the town centre.
Malone Park was established for the Marong Football Club which went into a hiatus in the 1960s before being reactivated along with the Marong Cricket Club in the 1970s. During the hiatus the Marong Light Harness Club took over the site and developed a harness track around the oval. Since that time more users including the Marong Bowls Club, Bendigo and District Family Equine Group and Marong Tennis Club establishing at the site.
The reserve was named after the Malone Family who were well known residents of the area.
Sports facilities at Malone Park include two pavilions, a sports oval, trotting track and horse yards, netball courts, cricket training facilities, bowling greens and the nearby Marong Swimming Pool.
A rest stop, playground, picnic/barbecue area and main toilet block are located alongside the Calder Alternative Highway. A second toilet block is located near the harness racing track.
The barbecue area is right alongside the children's play space and features an undercover area, picnic tables, electric barbecues, and a drinking fountain.
Malone Park is home to the following user groups:
- Marong Football & Netball Club
- Marong Cricket Club
- Marong Bowls Club
- Marong Light Harness Club
- Greater Bendigo Family Equine Group
- Marong Golf club also manages the adjacent land to the south as part of its back 9
Frequently asked questions
The City of Greater Bendigo is closing the western entrance (near the Calder Alternative Highway) to Malone Park to vehicles, to improve pedestrian safety and traffic management within the precinct.
The changes will include the installation of vehicle barriers and signage, but access for pedestrians and emergency services will be retained.
There are no changes proposed to vehicle access from the eastern side at Malone Park Drive, off the Calder Highway.
Through the community consultation undertaken for the Malone Park Master Plan 2022, we heard that the community wanted better pedestrian connectivity and safety throughout the precinct.
This measure was identified alongside several key actions to address pedestrian safety and improve traffic management at Malone Park, and is listed on page 23 of the Master Plan, Reference ID #9.
With these changes in place, we expect it will be more appealing for the community to walk, cycle and access Malone Park by reducing through traffic and ‘shortcutting’, providing additional vehicle-pedestrian separation, and reducing vehicle speeds.
The closure to vehicles is occurring at the western entrance, directly accessible from Calder Alternative Freeway. This means this entrance, including the bridge over Bullock Creek, will no longer be accessible to vehicles, other than emergency services.
Yes. Once the vehicle barriers and signage are installed, vehicles will no longer be able to enter Malone Park from the western entrance (except for emergency services). The western entrance changes may be further formalised as other precinct-wide actions are implemented.
We heard from the Master Plan engagement process that the community wants better pedestrian connectivity and safety throughout the park.
Closing the western entrance to vehicles is the first of several key actions from the Master Plan focussing on pedestrian safety and connectivity, including the creation of a network of pedestrian connections to provide better access to the variety of facilities at Malone Park. These new pedestrian connections will link in with the future improvements that are recommended in the Master Plan.
The City is required to retain access for emergency services at the western entrance including for onsite emergency assembly and evacuation points.
The installation of vehicle barriers and signage is expected to take place early April 2024.
The changes will be complete and entrance accessible to the public in April 2024.
No, access through the western entrance from the Calder Alternative Highway will not be possible during construction.
The Malone Park Master Plan (2022) provides a list of high, medium and low priority actions to be completed over the long term. Planning has already begun for several priority actions and long-term planning has begun to stage out all action items, which are subject to funding.
According to .id community demographic resources, the population estimate for Marong – Rural West as of June 30, 2019 was 4,928 with approximately 2,000 people living in the township and immediate surrounds. Since the previous year, the population has grown by 1.70 per cent compared to population growth of 1.37 per cent in regional Victoria.
Marong is one of Greater Bendigo’s growth areas with a four-fold increase in population to 8,000 predicted in coming years by the City’s Marong Structure Plan. It’s therefore important for the City to plan for this growth to ensure Marong has the necessary infrastructure it needs to strengthen community interaction and provide opportunities for residents to lead healthy lifestyles.
The Malone Park Master Plan will guide the development and maintenance of this important recreation area in a way that services the needs of the Marong community now and into the future. It will also build on the work previously undertaken by the Malone Park Users Group Association.
The master plan considers the sports and facilities that could be provided on the site, and the highest and best uses of the space to encourage residents to live active and healthy lifestyles within their own community and near their homes.
The consultation showed that the community highly value Malone Park with many respondents using the area for casual use outside of sport.
More than 54 per cent of respondents said they were not members of any club associated with the park. Also interesting was the large number of survey respondents (42 per cent) who said they walked to access the reserve. In addition, 93 per cent of respondents said they had visited Malone Park in the past 12 months.
Survey respondents said their favourite characteristics of the park are:
- the natural environment (50%)
- the oval (47%)
- the walking paths and tracks (37%)
- the playground (35%)
Only 32 per cent of respondents indicated that the reserve met their needs with their suggestions for improvement including:
- Improvements to sporting facilities, pavilion, change rooms and lighting
- Improved play opportunities
- Improve walking and cycling paths, tracks and trails
- Improve roads and parking
- Establishment of an irrigated second oval
- New public toilets
- Establishment of a dog park
The vehicle barriers will not be located within the bed and bank of the Bullock Creek crossing. They will be installed on higher ground either side of the creek so they are visible.