Field of Mars Reserve Draft Plan of Management & Land Recategorisation

Located in East Ryde, the Field of Mars Reserve is the largest remnant bushland reserve under the care, control and management of the City of Ryde covering approximately 50 hectares. This protected Wildlife Refuge includes natural area (bushland), sections of Buffalo and Strangers Creeks, walking tracks, Visitors Centre/amenities building, Environmental Education Centre, picnic area and car park. The Reserve contains several endangered ecological communities and threatened species and provides significant habitat for native birds and animals.

The draft Plan of Management for Field of Mars Reserve identifies objectives, targets and proposes strategies to protect and guide the future maintenance and management of this Reserve, in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993, Crown Land Management Act 2016 and National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974. 

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1993 and Crown Land Management Act 2016, Council owned land classified as ‘Community Land’ or Crown Land managed by Council as ‘Community Land‘, must be assigned a ‘Land categorisation’. These land categorisations provide guidelines and objectives for land use and management.

Under previous legislation, Crown Land within the Field of Mars Reserve did not require a land categorisation. However, the Crown Land Management Act 2016 required Crown Land managed as community land to be assigned land categorisations. Changes in legislation over time has necessitated the previous Plan of Management (adopted 2009) and the land categorisation for the Reserve to be reviewed and updated.

View the Land Categorisation Map (2009)

In preparing the Field of Mars Reserve Masterplan (now adopted) and draft Plan of Management, Council reviewed the existing land categorisations and are proposing land recategorisation changes to some small portions of Field of Mars Reserve to better reflect the Reserve’s natural features, enable the adopted Masterplan and Reserve use.

View the Proposed Land Categorisation Map (2023)

Area 1 (part of Field of Mars Reserve): Situated to the south and south-west of the Education Centre and in proximity to the pedestrian reserve entry from Westminster Road. It is characterised by a combination of established areas of vegetation and an open grassed area used for picnics, passive recreation and educational purposes.

Area 2 (part of Field of Mars Reserve): Situated to the north-east of the confluence of Buffalo Creek and Strangers Creek. It is largely characterised by established bushland vegetation on land with increasing topography extending up towards residential properties boundaries on Moncrief Drive and McCallum Avenue. The lower section of Area 2 is wetland immediately adjacent to the lower extremity of Buffalo Creek.

A public hearing is required under Section 40A of the Local Government Act 1993 to recategorise community land. Under the Act the public hearing must be chaired by an independent facilitator. Council has engaged Sandy Hoy, Director, Parkland Planners for this public hearing.

For more specific information please refer to the 'Field of Mars Reserve Proposed Land Recategoristion Public Hearing Background Information'.

• 🔗 Field of Mars Reserve draft Plan of Management
• 🔗 Field of Mars Reserve Proposed Land Recategorisation Public Hearing Background Information
• 🔗 Land Categorisation Map - Proposed (2023)

• 🔗 Local Government Act 1993
• 🔗 Crown Land Management Act 2016
• 🔗 Field of Mars Reserve Masterplan Report (adopted August 2021)
• 🔗 Council Resolution 10 August 2021 - Public Exhibition of draft Field of Mars Reserve Plan of Management
• 🔗 Field of Mars Reserve Plan of Management (2009)
• 🔗 Land Categorisation Map - Previous (2009)

You can Have Your Say on the Field of Mars Reserve Draft Plan of Management and Land Recategorisation in a number of ways including via the online submission form, email, post, or registering for the Public Hearing.

Council has engaged an independent facilitator, Parkland Planners, to conduct the public hearing and reporting for the proposed land recategorisation component of this Have Your Say. Submissions relating to the proposed land recategorisation will be shared with Parkland Planners for reporting purposes.

Online Form

Please complete the online form to provide your feedback on the draft Plan of Management and proposed land recategorisation. Submissions will be received up until 11.59pm on Tuesday, 26 September 2023.

Submissions have now closed.

Written Submissions

Written submissions must be clearly marked as ‘Field of Mars Reserve Draft Plan of Management’ or ‘Field of Mars Reserve Proposed Land Recategorisation’. 

All submissions must be received by Tuesday, 26 September 2023.

Email     cityofryde@ryde.nsw.gov.au
Post       City of Ryde, Locked Bag 2069, North Ryde NSW 1670 

Public Hearing for Proposed Land Recategorisation

Local residents are invited to attend the public hearing on the proposed land re-categorisation in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993. Council will use an independent facilitator, Sandy Hoy, Director, Parkland Planners, to conduct the public hearing.

Residents will be able to attend the public hearing in person:

Date: Wednesday 30 August 2023
Time: 4.30pm – 6.00pm
Location: Wallumetta Meeting Room, Ryde Library, 1 Pope Street, Ryde
Registration: Advanced registration is required and places are limited. Registrations for the public hearing close 12.00noon on Monday 28 August 2023. 

How do I participate in the public hearing?

Please register by 12.00noon on Monday 28 August 2023 to participate in the public hearing. You can complete the online registration form via the link below or if you don’t have internet access, please call Customer Service on (02) 9952 8222.

Registrations for the Public Hearing have now closed.

Privacy Statement

Personal information collected from you (including responses to forms and surveys) is held and used by Council under the provisions of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. The supply of information is voluntary, however if you cannot provide, or do not wish to provide the information sought, Council may be unable to process your application or request, or consider your submission. Please note that the exchange of information between the public and Council, may be accessed by others and could be made publicly available under the Government Information Public Access Act 2009 (GIPA Act). If you require further information please contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 9952 8222.