MOONEE Valley Council has voted to adopt the controversial Fairbairn Park master plan, despite months of heated debate.

The plan details a multimillion-dollar upgrade of the park - Moonee Valley's largest sporting facility.

It also paves the way for the relocation of the Essendon Cricket Club to Fairbairn Park, away from its base at Windy Hill. More than 1000 signatures had been put to a petition against the plan, amid fears a major amenity loss if a Premier Grade cricket club took up residence.

Residents' spokeswoman Angela Christensen said people were gobsmacked with the result.

She said residents were disappointed the plan had been rushed through, and objectors would explore their options.

"We are trying to think of other options, but hoping we don't have to go down a track like the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal."

At last Tuesday's council meeting, Cr Jan Chantry sought to amend an officer's recommendation so that a Fairbairn Park reference group could be established to guide the roll-out of the master plan.

The amendment was accepted, 7-2. Councillors Rose Iser and Paul Giuliano voted against the move, citing the overwhelming opposition from residents as the reason for their decision.

Cr Iser said supporting the master plan represented a "sad day for representative democracy".

Later she said residents felt angered their concerns had not been addressed.

"It would have been easy for council to spend a bit more time talking with residents about aspects of the master plan that caused concern.

"Now the master plan has been approved, a reference group won't have the power to change even small aspects of the master plan – they will need to come back to council."

Cr Giuliano said that despite the cricket club move, community consultation had to continue. The Essendon Football Club, which wants the cricket club out of Windy Hill, paid $40,000 to develop the Fairbairn Park master plan.