Moruya Riverside Park and Reserves Plan of Management and Master Plan
Project: Continued development of draft Riverside Park and Reserves Landscape Plan of Management and Master Plan. These strategic plans will identify the important features and attributes of the land, including how it is used and managed at the current time and how it may be developed into the future.
Timeframe: Recommencing 21 July 2025 and planning to have a draft POM ready to seek Minister's consent by October 2025
Status: In progress
Cost and funding:
- Estimated cost to develop a final Landscape Master Plan and Plan of Management is $35,000.
- Funds are coming from Council's Recreation and Open Space allocation, supported by a contribution the NSW Council Crown Land Management - Plans of Management Funding Support Program.
Page last updated: 7 July 2025
Project details
We are working to:
- continue developing the draft Landscape Master Plan and Plan of Management for the reserves that make up Moruya Riverside Park and Moruya Riverside Reserves.
- undertake further community consultation with site user groups and the community.
Benefits to the community
- Through community consultation and planning, we can balance the area's unique setting and significance with ongoing opportunities to support high levels of public use, events, and recreation activities.
- By understanding how people currently use Moruya Riverside Park and Reserves and exploring how they could be used in the future, we can create connected spaces that meet the varied needs of the community.
- By continuing our protection of the ecologically diverse reserves, we can help ensure their longevity in the face of changing climate conditions.
Community engagement
Come for a chat and share your ideas at one of our following community consultations:
- pop-up stall to be held at Moruya markets on Saturday 19 July 2021, 8am – 1pm
- drop-in session to be held on Monday 21 July 2025 at Moruya Library, 5 - 8pm
- pop-up stall to be held at SAGE markets on Tuesday 22 July 2025, 3 - 5pm.
You can also complete the online survey:
Feedback obtained through the consultation process will be used to further develop the draft master plan and inform and guide the development of a draft POM Plan of Management for the site.
Plan of Management area
Project updates
2025
- We are ready to present the draft Landscape Master Plan to the community and key stakeholders through the next round of community consultation.
- Feedback obtained through the upcoming consultation process will further inform development of the draft Landscape Master Plan, establish clear directions and needs across the reserves, and guide the development of the draft Plan of Management.
2024
- Following Transport for NSW announcing a preferred corridor for the Moruya bypass in July 2024, we resumed work on this project, preparing a draft landscape master plans for these reserves, which will support the future draft Plan of Management.
2022
- After initial work on the draft landscape master plan, we postponed this project due to uncertainty around the Moruya bypass.
2021
- Council staff and consultants, Locale Consulting, asked key site users and the community to give their input via an online survey that asked how community use Riverside Park now and how they see themselves using the area in the future.
Next steps
Following the engagement period the following will occur:
- The Master Plan drawings will be updated to reflect consultation outcomes, and a draft POM will be developed.
- The draft Plans will be referred to Crown Lands for Ministers approval to undertake public exhibition.
- The draft Plans will be reported to Council for endorsement to undertake public exhibition.
- A formal exhibition period will be undertaken – with 42 days provided for any written submissions.
- Written submissions will be considered and changes integrated into the plans where desirable and feasible.
- The Final POM and Master Plan will be provided to Crown Lands to receive their concurrence for adoption.
- The Final Plan of Management and Master Plan will be reported to Council for adoption.
More information
For more information, please contact Council's senior recreation planner, Peta Brooks:
- T: 02 4474 7366
- E: Peta Brooks
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Riverside Park Reserves?
Moruya Riverside Park and Moruya Riverside Reserves are located on the north-eastern edge of Moruya town centre and adjoining the Moruya River. The reserves extend east to west, bound by the Princes Highway to the west, the Moruya River to the north and Ryans Creek to the south-east. The Moruya town centre adjoins to the south and south-west, meaning that the reserves are ideally located to service the Moruya community and its visitors.
Riverside Park (R82377) is commonly known as the area incorporating:
- Russ Martin Park,
- Moruya War Memorial Swimming Pool; and
- Moruya Riverside Park.
While Moruya Riverside Reserve (R83511) consists of Ryans Creek Reserve.
What is the role of these reserves?
The area known as Moruya Riverside Park (82377) and Riverside Reserve (consisting of Ryans Creek Reserve) (83511) have long been part of the social and recreational history of the area and continue to play an important role in recreational activities and community events.
Moruya Riverside Park contains a range of infrastructure that serves a wide range of community, recreation, sporting, cultural and environmental interests. The Parks immediate proximity to Moruya town centre creates an important space within the broader Moruya area and means that the Park is regularly used by residents and visitors.
Moruya Riverside Reserves, which includes Ryans Creek Reserve, caters for low-scale passive recreation activities set within a largely natural setting. Portions of the area have been progressively revegetated to improve the environmental attributes following previous clearing and grazing activities.
The reserve supports numerous threatened animal species, including a Grey-headed flying fox maternity camp, as well as large areas of threatened native vegetation. It is primarily a riparian and wetland zone with significant environmental and Aboriginal cultural heritage values.
What is a Plan of Management?
A Plan of Management (POM) is required by legislation for all land classified as “community” land. A POM provides the legal and strategic framework and operational governance for the precinct and enables the delivery of actions identified through the landscape master plan. A POM outlines:
- how certain public land can be used, developed and managed
- the scale and intensity of current and future use and development on the land
- how leases and licences or other interests are granted on community land.
Why is Council preparing a Plan of Management for this reserve?
The NSW Crown Land Management Plan 2016 and Local Government Act 1993 requires Council to develop a plan of management for these reserves.
How is a Plan of Management developed?
A Plan of Management is developed in consultation with the community and key site users. It generally involves a six-step process like the below, with consultation being undertaken at various stages.
Why do we consult?
Information obtained during the various consultation processes is used to develop the:
- Landscape Master Plan
- Plan of Management
What is a landscape master plan ?
A master plan is a visual plan that illustrates the location of existing and future infrastructure, key activities, and includes strategic design principles to show or create integration between a precinct and its broader surroundings.
A master plan is developed through information and feedback obtained during community consultation. The master plan establishes a vision and direction for the reserves, informs development of and supports the Plan of Management.
The POM provides the legislative framework and management context to enable the delivery of actions identified through the master planning process.