Equitable access and community participation
Ensure all community members have equal access to sport and active recreation programs, regardless of age, gender, ability, or background.
Recreation Strategy
We’ve drafted a new 10-year Recreation Strategy (RS) to serve as a framework for enhancing community wellbeing through varied, equitable and inclusive recreation opportunities. The Strategy focuses on:
- accommodating our diverse and engaged community
- education and partnerships to help meet community needs
- reducing participation barriers and challenges to help get more people more active
We’re seeking community feedback on the draft strategy to help us understand if we've got it right, and the areas that need further consideration.
Supporting an inclusive, connected, and healthy community is important. Active recreation, whether it’s walking the dog, skating at a local park, hiking a trail, swimming, or playing a casual game of basketball, is a powerful enabler of individual and community wellbeing. It plays a critical role in improving physical and mental health, fostering social inclusion, and enhancing the vibrancy and liveability of our communities.
Aquatics Strategy
As part of this community consultation, we’re also seeking feedback to inform a new long-term Aquatics Strategy to guide the future direction of Council-owned aquatic and leisure facilities. This includes creating a business case for a possible new aquatic and leisure centre to better meet the needs of our community now and into the future.
Bayside currently has 2 aquatic facilities: Sandringham Family Leisure Centre (SFLC), built in 1978 and nearing end-of-life, and Middle Brighton Baths – a historic saltwater venue. We’ve also developed plans for a warm water pool at Brighton Golf Course, however significant and rising costs means we’re now reviewing all aquatic investments to ensure they’re fit for the future.
Aquatic centres are more than just pools. They support health, wellbeing, social connection and inclusion for people of all ages and abilities. With changing community needs and ageing infrastructure, it’s time to plan for the next 30 years.
The Aquatics Strategy will explore:
- community needs and service gaps
- warm water/hydrotherapy pool options
- environmental sustainability
- financial planning and funding
- future locations and facility types.
Your feedback will help us draft the Strategy and understand:
- how you use current facilities
- what barriers you face when using the current facilities
- what services and programs you’d like to see
- what matters most to you in aquatic and leisure spaces.
Your feedback will help to inform the draft Aquatics Strategy. We'll publish the draft and undertake a second community consultation to determine where we've got it right, and what can be further improved in early to mid 2026.
The future of recreation in Bayside
To build a fair and inclusive environment for our community and to encourage participation in sports and active recreation, Bayside is committed to developing inclusive and accessible spaces. We prioritise the multi-purpose and shared facilities designed for optimal functionality and broad community benefit.
This Strategy identifies Council’s key priorities and provides a framework to enhance, improve, and manage municipal recreation facilities and opportunities over the next decade. Together, we can create vibrant spaces that inspire active lifestyles and strengthen our community.
Priorities
Top recreation provision priorities for Bayside
Goals
Recreation Strategy goals
The people within Bayside are the heart of our community. Council is committed to supporting the community to foster a healthy, equitable and thriving environment to support overall wellbeing. The bayside community continue to express a strong desire for enhanced sport and recreation opportunities that promote active living.
Our built environment, and sport and recreation facilities are highly valued by our community. Upgrading and enhancing these spaces will strengthen the community's liveability, which supports enhanced wellbeing, accessibility, safety, and sustainability. Our assets must be maintained and improved to support organised sports and active recreation activities to ensure there is adequate access to facilities for the increasing population and participation levels.
We strive to support the health and wellbeing of our community and the need for active lifestyle opportunities. Council has an important role in fostering strong community relationships, advocating for important issues, and using evidence-based data to make financially viable decisions.
Actions
Recreation Strategy: Action Plan objectives
To build a fair and inclusive environment for our community and to encourage participation in sports and active recreation, Bayside is committed to developing inclusive and accessible play spaces. We prioritise the shared use of facilities designed for optimal functionality and community benefit.
This strategy identifies Council’s key objectives and provides a framework to enhance, improve, and manage municipal recreation facilities and opportunities over the next decade.
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Support informal and multi-generational recreation
Enhance community involvement in sport and recreation participation, planning and design to support increased community’s long-term active lifestyles.
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Facilities improvement
Upgrade existing sport and active recreation facilities to meet modern standards of quality and accessibility, and to be equitable, safe, active transport friendly and fit for purpose.
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Enhance active spaces
Investigate and advocate for future recreation opportunities, and further support the condition audits of sport and active recreation facilities accordingly.
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Partnership and development
Foster strong relationships with local clubs, schools, and organisations to maximise recreation opportunities.
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Funding and grants
Advocate, obtain and promote funding opportunities to help support local clubs and organisations in enhancing sport and active recreation facilities and programs.
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Policy, guidelines and strategy
Collect data that will inform decision making, infrastructure development, service initiatives and to understand future needs.
- Environmental impact of existing recreational infrastructure
- The Bayside 2050 Community Vision
- Capacity and demand for facilities
- Local, State and Federal Government data, strategies, trends and forecasts
- Consideration of the functionality and multipurpose use of recreation assets
- Census data and Bayside’s demographic profile
- Accessibility, inclusivity, and cultural acknowledgment
- Education, partnerships, and volunteer opportunities
In recent years Bayside City Council has 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 recreation facilities and opportunities in Bayside.
The draft strategy considers engagement findings from recent local projects, renewed plans and strategies including:
- Bayside Open Space Strategy 2025 - 2035
- Coastal and Marine Management Plan (currently with DEECA to endorse)
- Community Satisfaction Survey: 2024
- Future Plans: 2024
- Wangara Road Masterplan: 2024
- Suburban Rail Loop advocacy: 2023 - ongoing
- Lights on for dogs program trial: 2022 - 2023
- Sports Facility Users Guide June 2023
- Open Space Strategy 2011 – 2031
- Bayside Sportsground Pavilion Improvement Plan 2013 (and 2019 review)
- Playground Improvement Plan 2015 - 2025
- Bayside Tennis Strategy 2019 – 2028
- Recreation and Open Space Asset Management Plan (2016)
- Bayside Council plan 2021-2025
- Recreation Strategy 2013-2022
- Bayside’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021—2025
- Disability Action Plan 2021 – 2025
- Community Vision 2050
- Fair Access Policy
- Fair Access Action Plan
- Bayside integrated transport strategy
- Bayside walking strategy
- Bicycle action plan 2019–26
- Climate Emergency Action Plan 2020-25
- Water for Bayside, Integrated Water Management Plan 2024-27
Provide your feedback
Complete the survey then drop pins on the map. Submissions close 5pm 25 November.
Talk to us events
How to participate in this project:
To make a submission or enquiry, please get in touch via the following methods:
- Online via the survey and map on this page
- Ask a question in the Q&A forum
- Drop-in to a 'Talk to us' event
- In person at the Corporate Centre at 76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham
- Post to Bayside City Council, PO Box 27 Sandringham 3091
- Anonymously via the postal, phone or email details above.
Please note: materials can be provided in accessible formats on request.
Recreation Strategy
- Book a meeting with David Nankervis, Recreation and Events Coordinator to discuss the Recreation Strategy
- Email dnankervis@bayside.vic.gov.au
- Phone 03 9599 4838
Aquatics Strategy
- Book a meeting with Belinda Griffiths, Recreation Projects Coordinator to discuss the Aquatics Strategy
- Email bgriffiths@bayside.vic.gov.au
- Phone 03 9599 4881
Submissions close 5pm Tuesday 25 November 2025
Please select the blue subscribe+ button at the top of this page to receive updates about this project, including notification of when it will be considered at Council meetings.
