Australian Capital Territory
Land (Planning and Environment) (Plan of Management for Urban Open Space and Public Access Sportsgrounds in the Gungahlin Region) Approval 2007
Disallowable instrument DI2007–298
made under the  
Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991, section 204 (Minister’s Powers)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Draft Plan of Management for Urban Open Space and Public Access Sportsgrounds in the Gungahlin Region (the Plan) has been prepared as a statutory requirement to show the management intent of current and future management of particular urban parks and sportsgrounds in the Gungahlin Region.  The Plan draws on a range of data collected from government resources, the Territory Plan and historical data and reflects issues raised by the ACT community, in particular the Gungahlin community, and public land managers.
The Plan establishes the framework for the comprehensive management of urban open space and public access sportsgrounds on public land, in both the existing and new suburbs of the Gungahlin Region.  The Plan has been prepared in accordance with the vision for Gungahlin’s urban parks and sportsgrounds (refer below), and developed in consultation with the community and user groups, consistent with reference to the Territory Plan objectives for urban open space and Schedule 1 of the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991 (the Land Act).
The vision for Gungahlin's urban parks and sportsgrounds is:
Gungahlin is a city within a rural landscape with a linked system of quality parks and sportsgrounds that provide appropriate opportunities for recreation and sporting activities and interpretation of the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

The Plan covers 14 urban park and sportsground types: 
•	Gungahlin Town Park;
•	District Parks;
•	Neighbourhood Parks;
•	Lakes and Ponds;
•	Semi-natural Open Space;
•	Grassland and Woodland Sites;
•	Heritage Parks;	•	Pedestrian Parkland;
•	Laneways;
•	Major Road Verges and Medians;
•	District Sportsgrounds;
•	Neighbourhood Sportsgrounds;
•	Special Purpose Areas; and
•	Cemeteries.	
Note 1:  This listing reflects the order in which each park type is presented in this Plan and does not reflect their relative importance.
Note 2: Enclosed sportsgrounds are subject to a separate Plan of Management in preparation 'Draft Plan of Management: Enclosed Sportsgrounds and Public Pools'.
Each has a range of management purposes, values, facilities and recreational opportunities.  Facilities provided in each urban park and sportsground vary depending on the values present and the activities to be catered for.  Different recreational activities are appropriate in different urban park and sportsground types.  This is reflected in the intended levels of management assigned to each urban park and sportsground type. 
A standard format for the presentation of relevant information on urban parks and sportsgrounds in Gungahlin Region has been adopted.  Tables show information on values, facilities and recreational opportunities for each urban park and sportsground.  The information provided in the tables assists urban park and sportsground managers and users alike to protect cultural, heritage, social and environmental values.  Two maps have been included for most urban park or sportsground types showing the locations of urban parks and sportsgrounds in existing and new/future suburbs.  
It is envisaged that the life of this Plan will be a minimum of five years, after which the Plan will be reviewed and amended if required.
The Plan of Management commences in accordance with section 207(3) of the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991.  This section states that subject to any disallowance under the Legislation Act, chapter 7, the plan of management commences on the day after the 5th sitting day after the day it is presented to the Legislative Assembly under that chapter.