By Oliver Lees
The Woodend Hanging Rock Petanque Club is searching for answers after the club was left out of the 50-year planning document for the Hanging Rock precinct.
The draft Hanging Rock Master Plan was released on January 6 by the state government following community consultation and the approval of the 50-year Hanging Rock Strategic Plan in 2018.
In a collaboration between the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Macedon Ranges council, the document outlines a plan to expand the protection of distinctive landscapes, retain Aboriginal cultural heritage and to safeguard tourism experiences.
Star Weekly reported on January 14 that the draft planning document provided no space for the Hanging Rock Cricket Club, the Hanging Rock Tennis Club or the Woodend Hanging Rock Petanque Club. Petanque is similar to the French game of boules.
Every Thursday for the past 20 years, the Woodend Hanging Rock Petanque Club has met at one of the gravel car parks located within the Hanging Rock precinct.
The club’s other facilities include a shelter and a small storage area for equipment.
With 81 members who use the car park space for approximately three hours per week, club president Chinka Steel said he can’t understand why they cannot continue to operate as they have done under the new vision for the precinct.
“As far as I see it, petanque is the most environmentally friendly sport of all time,” he said.
“We pack up, leave them all there, and about the biggest trouble we’ve had is a rosella or two want to pick up one of our jacks.
“I think it’s overkill. I find the whole master plan conflicting. If you’re going to have more [tourists] there, you’ve got to have somewhere for them to park, and our gravel car park is perfectly suitable.”
DELWP Loddon Mallee regional director Anthony Judd told Star Weekly the relocation of sporting clubs was not because of environmental impacts, but due to limited available space.
“The Hanging Rock Master Plan is about safeguarding Hanging Rock and the surrounding area to ensure environmental and cultural assets and values are protected,” Mr Judd said.
Mr Judd said the transition of the sporting clubs “to other nearby locations” would be carried out over five years.
But as a life member of the Hanging Rock Tennis Club and the Woodend Hanging Rock Petanque Club, Mr Steel said without the primary location in the precinct, these clubs would lose their identity.
“Anybody who comes out there on a Thursday can see we have a beautiful setting. It’s partially sheltered, it’s very wind protected, we regularly see rosella and kookaburras, and we see the kangaroos come and go,” he said.
“And to the best of my knowledge, I don’t think we could be regarded as anything other than very passive users.”
Consultation on the plan will remain open until Monday, February 28.
Details: www.engage.vic.gov.au/hanging-rock-master-plan
