Open spaces are increasingly under pressure to accommodate a wide range of recreational activities, experiences, infrastructure and facilities. Natural green spaces are recognised for their key role in providing access to nature in urban areas and directly relating to improved mental health and wellbeing. Open space also provides critical environments and important habitat for native flora and fauna.
As recommended in the endorsed 2012 – 2032 Bayside Open Space Strategy, we’ve reviewed the 20-year strategy to assess if the priorities and actions endorsed in 2012 remain relevant and supported.
The revised draft BOSS 2025 - 2035 aligns with recent community engagement data; current practices, trends and needs; and the physical, development, demographic and climate changes experienced in the last 13-years. It also aligns with existing Council plans and policies and underpins the delivery of the action plan to maintain, improve, and enhance infrastructure and facilities to help support inclusive and diverse opportunities.
We’re seeking community feedback on the draft to help us understand have we got it right, and the areas that need further consideration.
Cultural heritage
Key principles of the Bayside RAP and the Bunurong Country Plan have influenced the draft BOSS including:
Current knowledge and data
In recent years we’ve undertaken a wide range of engagement activities to assist in planning for the environment, open space upgrades and recreation facilities. As a result, we know the community highly value public space in Bayside.
The renewed draft strategy considers engagement findings from recent projects, renewed plans and strategies including:
Emerging trends from recent community engagement
Environment and climate
Changing Weather Patterns and Climate Resilience
Coastal Erosion and Sea-Level Rise
Recreation and Social Infrastructure vs Conservation
Balancing Activation and Protection
Community Buildings in Open Spaces
Commercial Activity in Open Spaces
Recreation Trends
Dogs in open space
Wellbeing and Equity
The connection between green spaces and improved physical and mental health is well-established. Accessible open spaces not only enhance community wellbeing but are essential to creating thriving, healthy environments. As the demand for open space grows, particularly in urban areas, it is increasingly important to ensure that these spaces support diverse needs while maintaining inclusivity and accessibility.
Prioritising Health and Wellbeing
Providing for a Diverse Community
Maintaining Social Equity
Urban Growth and Planning
Due to its desirable location and proximity to public transport, Bayside is increasingly under pressure to provide more housing, which in turn puts greater demand on open space resources.
Areas of consideration include:
Funding open space
This strategy outlines ways to secure and optimise funding for open spaces in Bayside, addressing high land costs through rates, grants, and legislative contributions. It explores methods like land swaps, adjusting contribution rates, and aligning funding with partner strategies for efficiency and transparency.
The BOSS 2025-2035 is designed to guide how the Council uses, develops, manages, and maintains open spaces, including parks, playgrounds, and reserves, across the City of Bayside.
The draft BOSS builds on the foundations of the previous strategy endorsed in 2012, which served as a 20-year planning document. This mid-term review addresses emerging trends, demographic shifts, updated needs and aligns with relevant strategies and policies.
Suburb profiles can be viewed in detail in the draft strategy.
Key strategy objectives
The Victorian State Government has taken a lead role in creating the Metropolitan Open Space Strategy (MOSS), which addresses Victoria’s growing population and land management actions, and aligns with the need to provide quality, equitable and accessible public open space for all users.
The MOSS sets out a strategic framework for agencies and partners, including Local Governments, to work together collaboratively, efficiently and effectively. The draft BOSS adopts the three key directions as outlined in the MOSS: Protect, Optimise and Grow.
Preserve and enhance Bayside’s natural environment and open space legacy.
Ensure the long-term sustainability and efficient management of the open space network.
Expand and improve open spaces to support sustainable urban development
Protect our inherited open space legacy
Principle 1: Sustainability and Resilience - focus on climate adaptation, resource efficiency and environmental stewardship to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.
Principle 2: Environmental Protection - safeguard natural assets and integrate green infrastructure to enhance ecosystems and manage environmental impacts.
Optimise the open space network
Principle 3: Quality of life, health and wellbeing - enhance physical and mental health by connecting with open space, promoting active lifestyles, reducing stress and fostering social connections.
Principle 4: Equity, inclusion and adaptability - design open spaces to be inclusive and adaptable, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of the community.
Grow the open space network
Principle 5: Sustainable growth and development - support compact, mixed-use development that integrates accessible, adaptable open spaces to create vibrant, walkable communities.
Council also believes that all development should contribute its fair share towards an adequate open space network for the municipality. Therefore, in order to properly protect and grow the open space network, as part of the review of the Open Space Strategy, Council is proposing to increase the developer contributions.
Other key actions can be found within the draft BOSS 2025 - 2035.
Council understands that its open space is being used by more people for more things than it was in 2012 (when the current BOSS was adopted).
Council also understands that residents and visitors may want to see more open space in Bayside. At the moment, 89% of properties within Bayside are located within a 400m walk of public open space.
Residents and visitors would like to see the quality of open space in Bayside improved. In the last Community satisfaction survey (Year), Bayside placed ?? out of XX local government authorities in terms of satisfaction with open spaces. Council will always strive to improve its open spaces, but the level of service has to be balanced with all the other services provided by Council.
The updated Open Space Strategy will continue to promote the addition of new parks and reserves to Bayside, but acknowledges that due to land availability and land values, adding new open spaces will be difficult.
Since the open space strategy was adopted in 2012, the following sites have been added or converted into public open space:
As well as these sites, several playgrounds and sports pavilions have been reconstructed or improved.
The Bayside Open Space Strategy (‘BOSS’) was endorsed by Council in April 2012. The strategy has, to date, guided Council decision making about the use, management, maintenance and enhancement of Bayside’s open space.
Since its endorsement, Bayside’s open space network has grown, with approximately 24 hectares of parklands being returned to Council. The importance of access to equitable and quality open space has increased, particularly relating to the positive correlation between open space and community health and wellbeing.
Public open space in Bayside also provides vital space for large trees and other vegetation that may be lost as urban densities increase. Bayside’s vegetation plays an important part of neighbourhood character, sense of place and community wellbeing.
As recommended in the endorsed BOSS (2012), we’ve reviewed the strategy to ensure current practices, trends, needs and challenges are considered, particularly relating to climate change, the increasing population and municipal demographics. The review also considers recent community engagement data around the provision, and (at times conflicting) needs of open space in Bayside.
Council is committed to planting a variety of indigenous flora to maintain and increase biodiversity, increase canopy and to provide habitat for native fauna. This commitment is being implemented via the actions contained within the Bayside Urban Forest Strategy 2022 and the Bayside Park Improvement and Habitat Linkage Plan 2022.
Complete the survey and put markers on the map to have your say. Submissions close Thursday 21 August 2025.
To make a submission or enquiry, please get in touch via the following methods:
Please note: Materials can be provided in accessible formats on request.
Submissions close 5pm Thursday 21 August 2025.
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Bayside City Council, 76 Royal Avenue
PO Box 27, Sandringham VIC 3191
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