We are proposing to enter into a 99-year lease with the Commissioner of Highways for the reserve at Station Road, Woodside. This reserve currently is home to the Woody Trails bike track and community garden. During August 2025, we asked our community if you are supportive of our intention to enter into a 99-year lease with the Commissioner of Highways. You can find out what we heard from our community by reading the Engagement Summary below.

Background

Members of the Woodside community have been in occupation of the “Woody Trails” site at Station Road Woodside since at least the 1970s. The land is former rail corridor land owned by the State Government. In the 1970s the community group slowly took occupation of the site by working together to put a BMX track on the site, and over the years have continued to use the land not just as a cycle track but as a community garden, community meeting space and event space. Council have had ad-hoc involvement with the site and its stakeholders over many years.

In recent years, there has been increased advocacy from the community for physical improvements to the site. This prompted dialogue with the State Government about seeking approval for improvements. The State then commenced a process to consider the future of the land, i.e. whether or not it was required for government or community purposes.

The State Government have agreed in principle to retain ownership of the land and enter into a long-term lease with the Council. We have been in discussions with representatives from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport over terms of a proposed long-term lease. You can view the Draft Lease under the Document Library.

We invited feedback from the public on the proposal to enter into a 99-year lease with the Commissioner of Highways for the reserve at Station Road, Woodside.

Our engagement approach aimed to provide detail about the history of Station Road Reserve, and share the details of the proposed 99-year lease with the Commissioner of Highways.

Questions were asked to determine participants level of support for the proposed lease along with any additional feedback or comments. A feedback form was developed and provided online and in hardcopy format. It contained both closed and open style questions.

A total of 62 participants provided feedback on the proposed lease. 60 respondents provided their feedback via the online feedback form. Three respondents provided their feedback via email. One of these three respondents also completed the online survey.

Do you support Council entering into a 99-year lease with the Commissioner of Highways for the land at Station Road, Woodside?

Respondents feedback and comments regarding the lease proposal

Participants had the option to share further feedback or commentary about their response and / or the proposal lease. 43 respondents chose to provide comments, and the themes of these comments can be seen below:

• Support for the community space and / or 99-year lease. Commentary around the Station Road being a great community asset, meeting space, free community activity - 35 comments
• Appreciation for volunteer / community work at the site e.g. Love Woodside, Woody Trails, Woodside Commerce - 11 comments
• Requests for other public amenities / improvements e.g. shelter, drinking fountain, paving, signage - 6 comments
• Requests to add a public toilet - 5 comments
• Comments around removing the Council Depot from the site - 4 comments
• Support for formalised connection to Amy Gillett Bikeway - 4 comments
• More tree planting / protection of nature and vegetation - 4 comments
• Concerns about no funds being available to support the site / increased cost to Council - 3 comments
• Reserve supports / encourages community connection - 2 comments
• Effects on nearby residents e.g. noise, rubbish, accessing private property - 2 comments
• Concerns about costs being passed on to community groups / events - 2 comments
• Comments not in support of proposed lease - 2 comments

View the full Community Engagement Outcomes Report under the Document Library or by selecting the button below:

Since the completion of engagement in late August, council staff have been analysing engagement feedback and undertaking a range of tasks with key site stakeholders, to further understand the current condition and range of infrastructure at Station Road reserve.

These investigations will enable staff to create a full picture of current civil and build infrastructure on site and understand any urgent upgrades that need to occur.

Staff will continue to work with key stakeholders and surrounding residents to prepare designs and costings for works to connect the Amy Gillet Bikeway between Tiers Road and Langbein Ave and plan for any future operational tasks required at the site.

Once these designs and costings have been prepared and funding secured, a Report will go to Council requesting endorsement of the proposed 99-year lease, sharing the engagement findings and detailing the required future works and costings for this site should Council decide to proceed with the lease.

View the graphic below to see a planned timeline for the project.