A masterplan is a strategic document that establishes a vision and identifies a priority list to guide the cohesive implementation of improvements across the Reserve.

A master plan should be achievable, sustainable and fall within the Council’s ability to manage and maintain it.

Projects nominated within the Masterplan are at concept stage only. This means that they will provide guidance on the scope of the improvement including the location, materiality, desired outcome but will not be documentation suitable for tender or construction.

Detailed design and preparation for tender will need to be considered as part of the implementation of each nominated project.

The Masterplan for Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve will contain a vision for the reserve, a materials palette, a look and feel for the Reserve and a list of prioritised projects to be implemented in future when funding is available through external grants or Council capital works.

The focus of the recommendations in the Masterplan is the open space and bushland reserve areas. Some high level directions for some of the heritage spaces and buildings will be included within the document.

None of the new projects that will be identified in the Masterplan are funded at this time. Instead, the adopted Masterplan will be used as a tool to leverage grant funding to implement the priority projects.

There is capital works funding for 2025/2026 for repair works to the existing lighting in the Reserve.

A draft version of the Masterplan is located in the document library or linked from this page as well as posted onsite at Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve.

The draft Masterplan contains a map with a series of numbers that correspond to proposed actions. Each number is described in the document 'HMSR Project List Description' in the document library.

The final Masterplan will include additional information about the site's history, proposed projects and other background documentation.

There are several ways to have a say on the draft Masterplan including:

• Participate in the survey linked from this page
• Attend a drop-in session onsite
• Attend the Question and Answer session.

The Visioning Engagement took place between 4 July – 1 August 2025. The Visioning Engagement represents the first of three phases of engagement that will shape the outcomes of the HMSR master plan. During this time officers reached out to the community, stakeholders and user groups and received information in the following ways:

• One Community Survey with 20 responses
• One Business Survey with zero responses
• One written submission
• Two onsite drop in sessions with a total of 7 attendees
• Four individual engagement conversation
• Sixteen stakeholder meetings.

There was a reasonable degree of consensus regarding the qualities and characteristics of the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve that hold the greatest appeal. These include the recognition that the charm of the Reserve lay in its closeness to nature, presence of springs, peaceful and picturesque setting as well as the access to walking trails and amenities. Bathing in the Hepburn Bathhouse, drinking mineral springs water, walking and passive recreation are the activities that the groups agree are preferred.

Aspects that most felt would enhance their experience of the Reserve, centered around very site specific qualities that are ‘of the place’ including the waterways, the natural environment and the area’s unique history. There was agreement that the that the existing activities were suitable, but the infrastructure was reaching the end of its useful life and needed some renewal or enhancement. The Hepburn Pool, Caretaker’s Cottage and use of the Pavilion were discussion points where respondents agreed that change was needed, but did not reach consensus on what that change could be.

Areas of contention include how to blend First Nations cultural heritage and European history as well as balancing the sentiment that tourism was important to the region but concern that over visitation may negatively impact the qualities of the reserve that make it unique. All respondent groups favoured improvements that enhanced the natural character of the reserve, focused on the mineral springs waters, enhanced the ability of visitors to engage in passive recreation, provide walkable connections and reflect the reserve’s cultural heritage, historic uses and connection to Country. Outcomes of the Visioning Engagement have been used inform the development of a draft master plan.

A full report of the engagement outcomes is located in the document library on this page.

An engagement report detailing the outcomes of the Visioning Engagement from late 2025 can be found in the Document Library on this page.