Council is progressing a Master Plan for the Woodend Racecourse Reserve (WRR). The Reserve offers residents and visitors a variety of both formal and informal recreational activities and is centrally located within the Woodend township. It also holds strong environmental and heritage value outside of recreation.
In addition to being the home of Buffalo Stadium, it currently plays host to a number of activities and user groups including the Woodend Pony Club, Riddells Creek Adult Riders Club, Hanging Rock and Woodend Petanque Club and Woodend Cricket Club, while also being accessed by the Woodend Junior Football Netball Club, Woodend Hesket Football Netball Club and Woodend Eagles Soccer Club.
Initial consultation was undertaken with key user groups and the community in early-mid 2023 to better understand current usage and future needs, including via an online survey which received more than 60 responses.
A detailed issues and opportunities paper for the Woodend Racecourse Reserve went out for community consultation in August-September 2024, to help inform the draft Master Plan, coinciding with the Draft Macedon Ranges Community Equestrian Facilities Plan also going out for community consultation (25 July - 22 August 2024).
At the July 2025 Council Meeting, Council endorsed that the Draft Woodend Racecourse Reserve Master Plan go out for a four-week period of community consultation, starting on 1 September 2025.
Draft Master Plan - 2025
What we are consulting on
Informed by earlier community feedback, we have now drafted the Woodend Racecourse Reserve Master Plan for further community consultation.
The plan proposes improvements to sport and recreational facilities to meet the needs of a growing community, enhancements to the site's heritage value and ongoing protection of the grasslands.
We encourage you to read through the draft Master Plan - and view the associated Concept Plan - by clicking on the documents below. We welcome feedback through the brief survey below from 1 - 28 September 2025.
A Draft Concept Plan showing key features outlined in the Draft Woodend Racecourse Reserve Master Plan.
Issues and Opportunities - 2024
What we consulted on
Council sought feedback on the issues and opportunities identified for the Woodend Racecourse Reserve, which included two potential concepts for either keeping limited equestrian facilities on site, or relocating them elsewhere.
This paper is available to download below and read in full. The map below also helps to outline some of these potential changes in a visual sense (noting that the map is roughly interpreted and that full details are reflected in the paper).
Feedback received during this consultation period was considered by officers and helped to develop a draft Master Plan, which is now available for feedback in the next tab on this page.
You can still review the below map, or download and view the full Issues and Opportunities paper.
Issues and opportunities
- Does equestrian remain?
- Site is too small for a cross-country jumps course.
- Dogs off leash are a danger to horse riders.
- Site has a heritage overlay. What heritage items should be upgraded and how should they be used?
- Site is waterlogged in winter/spring.
- Car parking is limited when larger events are scheduled.
- Existing oval has poor car access.
- Presentation of site is poor from street view and has a number of unused buildings on site.
- Poor current maintenance of sand arenas.
- Limited natural shade.
- No current facilities in Woodend for soccer and rugby.
- Dilapidated state of the grandstand and other heritage-protected structures.
- Upgrade grandstand to support outdoor events and/or future rectangular sport precinct.
- Allow for future two-court extension to Buffalo Stadium.
- Allow for future two-court extension to outdoor multipurpose courts.
- Clear old buildings and open reserve to improve security.
- Venue is central to many residents and is well used as a passive recreational site for walking, bike riding etc.
- Simple improvements are likely to increase usage.
- Increase tree plantings for shade and wind protection.
- Link and extend further walking trails.
- Shared outdoor events space with allowance for future soccer/rugby provision.
- Precinct interpretation including some former race club assets.
Privacy collection notice
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is committed to protecting your privacy. The personal information you provide through this consultation is being collected for the primary purpose of attribution alongside your feedback for record-keeping or validation purposes (where we may require proof of residency for example, to ensure the validity of localised feedback) and to enable two-way communication where appropriate, to keep you updated in relation to this consultation.
Where required, the personal information being collected will be provided to Macedon Ranges Shire Council staff or contractors, to help inform feedback and enable them to communicate with you in relation to the consultation where appropriate. If the personal information is not collected, we will not be able to contact you in relation to your feedback and may not be able to consider your feedback if localised feedback is required. Personal information is required to be de-identified in any public summary of feedback, such as a summary provided as part of a future Council Meeting report.
Your personal information will not be disclosed to any external party without your consent, unless required or authorised by law. If you wish to gain access to, or alter any personal information you have supplied through this consultation, please contact Macedon Ranges Shire Council via phone (03) 5422 0333 or email mrsc@mrsc.vic.gov.au. Information provided will be stored in accordance with Council’s Record Management Policy and destroyed in accordance with the Public Records Act 1973.
You can access our Privacy Policy on Council's website, and it is available for inspection at Council’s customer service centres.
