Precinct Master Plan - Red Tag Members Only Content

​The precinct master plan is nearing completion, and a decision by formal vote of all financial Red Tag Fly Fishers Club (RT) members will be required in order to determine any progression of the project. The purpose of this web page is to be a one-stop-shop for all the information you need about the Precinct Master Plan.

In the lead up to this formal member vote, we ask all RT members to review this site, ask questions and raise any concerns.  The Project Working Group will respond promptly to allow members to make an informed decision with voting to open on Friday 7th November 2025 and to close on Friday 14th November 2025 at 5pm.

We have set up  FAQs and Answers 
If you have a question that isn’t already covered, please ask it here and it will be answered on the Q&A page:

Member Vote page  LINK
Summary of Precinct and Building Design Briefing to RT Members 5 November 2025

Wednesday night, Red Tag members in attendance were briefed by Club President Stuart Murphy  LINK  on the significant progress that has been made by the Design Advisory Group (DAP) and the Project Working Group (PWG) and on the growing support the Precinct concept is receiving from the wider fly fishing community and government.

Please follow the links to see the detail of each presentation.

Brand Architects presented their latest proposed site plan and building renders.

Chris Gray from VFFA and Mending Casts spoke about the importance of the development, the likely challenges and the opportunity for Red Tag members to lead a project of national significance for fly fishing.

Club President Presentation 

​Videos from the General Meeting are here

Please follow this link to see the various letters of support received: LINK
Timeline
A lot of ground has been covered since the announcement of RT’s success in securing grant funding for the master plan earlier this year. Here’s a quick re-cap.

Feb 2025
  • The Allan Government via the Victorian Fisheries Authority announced the 2023-24 Recreational fishing grant recipients on Friday 7th Feb 2025. The Red Tag Fly Fishers Clubs was successful in achieving funding for the master planning for an improved fly-fishing precinct at the existing Yarra Bend Fairfield casting facility.
 
April 2025 May 2025
  • Fly Fishing Clubs, Fly Fishers, Red Tag Members and community users invited to complete a survey to ensure good design, community engagement and maximisation of benefits of the project to the broader fly fishing community.
June 2025
  • Community engagement commences with a “Friends of the Casting Precinct” mailing list.
  • The first stakeholder Zoom briefing is held on 5 June.
  • The Precinct Subcommittee issues a formal Request for Tender to engage a Master Plan Consultant with expertise in architecture and sports facility design.
  • RMIT Vocational Education building design students present their designs to Red Tag members and guests with over 100 people in attendance for the student presentations and awards. (LINK)
 
July 2025
  • RFT responses arrive and are assessed by the Project Plan Working Group (PWG).
August 2025
  • Following a detailed Request for Quotation process undertaken by the Project Working Group, Brand Architects are selected to lead the design and planning process for the fly-fishing precinct.
Sept - October 2025
  • In consultation with Red Tag members and relevant stakeholders, a shared vision develops.  At its heart, the project carries a simple but powerful vision: to create a welcoming home for fly fishers of every level. The project will include an upgrade for the casting pool with improved access, new pathways and a simulated stream, while the addition of lighting will extend practice into the evenings. A new pavilion and community spaces are planned, providing a hub for club gatherings, workshops and social events. Read the full document here: LINK
Nov 2025
  • Presentation to RT Members:
    • Stuart Murphy RT President LINK
    • Brand Architects LINK
    • Chris Gray Mending Casts and VFFA LINK
  • Communication to all RT Members in preparation for a formal member vote on whether to progress the development of the ‘Australian Fly Fishing Centre - Red Tag Pavilion’
 


Red Tag Member -  Precinct Strategy Vote

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Members are asked to consider the following question and formally respond via the Precinct Strategy Vote Link 

As a current Red Tag Club Member, I formally agree to support the development and management of the Australian Fly Fishing Centre – Red Tag Pavilion at Fairlea Rd, and I entrust the committee to oversee the project.

Master plan concept and drawings as provided by Brand Architects 5 Nov 25
Red Tag General Meeting Presentation 5 November 2025
A Shared Home for All
The following document shows an early view of a proposed strategy to caputure the spirit of the precinct opportunity.  This provides the context of how this opportunity is perceived.
VFFA / Mending Casts Presentation - Chris Gray
Chris has been working with the RT Project working group for the last 4 months as an observer and liaison between the PWG, VFFA and Mending Casts and is a former VFFA club president and current Mending casts committee member.  The following information has been circulated with VFFA. Please note the precinct images in the attached are older versions and not current
Letters of Support.
The following formal support letters have been received by red tag to progress this project
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Red Tag Precinct Committees of Management Biographies
The Red Tag Committee, the Precinct Project Working Group (PWG), the Design Advisory Group (DAP) have been meeting 5 times a month for the last few months, and this is the culmination of 2 - 3 years of sustained work by the club and 40 plus members and supporters.  These volunteers have a broad industry and sector reach and we are very appreciative of there sustained commitment to enhance our Fairlea rd precinct
A Vision for the Future - National Sports Organisation (NSO) recognition. (concept only)
The attached document is a vision document (draft only) that talks to the opportunity that might occur when Fly Fishing becomes a national sport in Australia.  NSO recognition is likely to be achieved in 2026.  FFA would like to work with Red Tag and the precinct to bring forward the opportunity that combining FFA/NSO/AFFC/Red Tag Club can offer to current and future generations of fly fishers.

Significant work is required to make this happen, however this document provides a basis for discussion and consideration in the future.
AFFC/Precinct Letters of support
Red Tag, has received broad and strong support from a range of organisations from Individuals, Club Level, Government Departments, STate and Federal government, Attached are some of the key letters of support for the aspiration of a national level fly fishing precinct
Additional Letters of Support Received by Red Tag Club
Red Tag Club Presentation - General Meeting 6 August 2025
The following presentation was given to all members at the start of August at the formal commencement of the Master Plan Consultant Engagement
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Brand Architects Master Plan Presentation
Chris Grey VFFA/Mending Casts Presentation
Red Tag Club President Presentation