The consultation report on the future investment and upgrade designs for the Serendip Sanctuary and You Yangs precinct was released this week as we prepare for the Sensory Garden at Serendip to open in summer.

In April 2025, we sought feedback on the concept designs for the You Yangs Regional Park and Serendip Sanctuary upgrades. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views.

We received over 300 survey responses and four written submissions from individuals and stakeholder groups. We also hosted an online meeting with mountain bike clubs to hear their ideas.

The consultation report is being shared with project subscribers, and individuals and groups who participated. It's also available to download from the Engage Victoria website.

This feedback is helping shape our approach to the upgrades at Serendip Sanctuary and You Yangs Regional Park, as part of the Victorian Government's $11 million investment to improve visitor infrastructure across the precinct.

We're now rolling out the upgrades in stages to support the community, habitat, and conservation needs across the precinct. The Project Stakeholder Reference Group continues to provide valuable input, with the most recent meeting held in September.

Staging the works means we can open new facilities – including the Sensory Garden and display pond at Serendip Sanctuary – as soon as they’re built and safe to use.

Stakeholder Reference Group visit to the Sensory Garden (L-R): Peter Zammit, Jani Demetrious, Tracy Carter (Geelong Bellarine Tourism), Joy Thorup Anderson (Friends of Serendip), Ella George — Member for Lara, Ruth Woodrow, Sarah Knell (GenU), Kwai Chang Kum, David Petty

Sensory Garden opening soon

Visitors to Serendip Sanctuary will soon be able to enjoy the display pond and a new Sensory Garden – thoughtfully designed to engage the senses and make nature more accessible for everyone in the community.

All paths, seating and benches in the garden have been designed for easy access for people with mobility needs. There are also opportunities across the garden to see, smell, listen, taste and feel plants and nature. The garden will also provide a relaxing sensory experience and safe access for sight impaired and blind visitors to relax, unplug and connect with nature.

By connecting the garden to a consistent water supply and providing habitat for visiting birds through the refurbished display pond, animals such as frogs, birds and turtles are returning to the park.

The pond will open to visitors when the new plants have had a chance to grow and establish habitat for visiting birds and insects.

With the support from the Friends of Serendip Sanctuary and community volunteers, our other recent works at Serendip include planting of yam daisies and threatened plant species along with weeding.

Early works on the Sensory Garden were made possible through a generous $45,000 sponsorship from CDC Victoria, CMV Truck & Bus and Volvo Buses Australia.

Upgrade works at Serendip and You Yangs to start soon

With the Sensory Garden soon to welcome visitors and the display pond now repaired we are getting ready for the next stage of works at Serendip.

Works on the major upgrade to the Serendip Sanctuary are set to start this year and will deliver:

• new internal fit out of the Education Centre
• new accessible toilets, shelter, picnic tables and benches
• upgrades to the outdoor learning centre and water pond area
• new bird-viewing areas and visitor seating for more opportunities to spot the many bird species that visit Serendip
• renewal of the Billabong Bird Hide, tunnel, and the predator proof fence to keep resident wildlife safe
• upgrades to paths and trails to improve accessibility
• improvements to the sanctuary entrance and carpark to make it safer for all visitors.

As part of the procurement process, the project team and local teams invited prospective contractors on a tour of the site in October. You can download a copy of the consultation report on the Engage Victoria website.

To keep up to date on the project as it progresses, you can subscribe to updates on our You Yangs and Serendip Sanctuary Upgrades page on the Parks Victoria website.