Project objectives
Strategically planning the use of Bayside’s recreation facilities will provide a consistent framework for prioritising, improving, developing, and managing municipal recreation assets.
The Recreation Strategy, Active Bayside 2026 - 2036 (RS) aims to:
- inform initiatives for recreation in Bayside
- maintain and enhance the useability of local recreation assets for informal and formal activity
- provide inclusive, welcoming, accessible recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities
- guide the planning, management and delivery of a quality recreation network
- inform an action plan for upgrades, maintenance and development
- develop and strengthen partnerships with the community, clubs, volunteer groups, and other stakeholders
- embed the Bayside 2050 Community Vision’s aspirational views of:
- ensuring community infrastructure on recreational land, has the potential for multipurpose
- barriers to participation for all people in accessing Council and community services to be identified and solutions implemented
- ensure existing recreational assets are maintained, protected and accessible to all.
The engagement program seeks to understand community sentiment about the draft RS. Feedback and ideas will identify gaps, opportunities for improvement, and growth areas to help support an inclusive and accessible active community:
- Have we captured and supported Bayside’s sport and active recreation priorities and community practices?
- Do we have the priorities accurate and an action plan suitable to deliver the priorities?
- Are Bayside’s sport and active recreational programs, infrastructure and services being met?
Community and stakeholder feedback will help to inform the final draft. The new strategy will also consider the review of existing policies, strategies and related action plans, including the Bayside Open Space strategy, Active by the Bay Recreation Strategy 2013-22, aligning to local and national sport and recreation data trends, the Fair Access Policy, Fair Access Action Plan, the Bayside Health and Inclusion Plan 2025–2029, the Bayside 2050 Community Vision, the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-24, and the Bayside City Council Plan 2025-2029.
As
part of this community consultation, we’re also seeking feedback to inform a new
Aquatics Strategy. We’re looking to the future to identify what public
pool facilities, programs, and services we need in Bayside, where they should
be, and how to fund them.
Project impacts
The scope of recreation in Bayside is comprehensive. The Recreation and Aquatics Strategies will consider the various uses, impacts and values placed on Bayside’s recreation and aquatics assets, including but not limited to:
- population growth
- sport and active recreation opportunities that reflect community value
- optimising space that is multipurpose
- community partnerships
- the importance of connection of green spaces and physical activity for health and wellbeing.
Initiatives stemming from both strategies will impact all Bayside residents, enterprises connected to sport and active recreation in Bayside, volunteer and member groups, and visitors to the municipality. Through effective and collaborative planning, Council can support a healthy and connected community by providing accessible recreation facilities, efficient management processes, programs, and maintained and improved infrastructure.
Influences that will shape the strategic direction include:
- health and wellbeing improvements
- the Bayside 2050 Community Vision
- capacity and demand for facilities
- Local, State and Federal Government data trends and forecasts
- consideration of the functionality and multipurpose use of assets
- census data and Bayside’s demographic profile
- accessibility, inclusivity, and cultural acknowledgment
- education, partnerships and volunteer opportunities.
What information do we need from the community?
The 5-week community engagement program will gather feedback through an embedded survey, face-to-face engagement sessions, and stakeholder meetings.
The consultation will seek feedback on:
- Sport priorities to address the facilities provision gaps
- Thomas Street and Elsternwick Park masterplanning (early stage development)
- Priorities for youth focused recreation assets
- The Recreation Strategy Action Plan
- Community sentiment about existing aquatics facilities and futures needs
Community feedback on the draft Recreation Strategy will help to finalise the draft before it is presented to Council for endorsement.
Community feedback on the Aquatic Strategy will help to inform the draft strategy before it is presented to the community for a second phase of community engagement.
What can the community influence?
- Prioritising recreation asset delivery to address infrastructure provision gaps
- Early stage planning for Thomas Street and Elsternwick Park masterplanning
- The Recreation Strategy Action Plan
- Council's understanding of how existing aquatics facilities are used and perceived by the community, and service gaps.
- Information about aquatics needs in Bayside, including pool facilities, programs, services, and locations, to help inform draft Aquatics Strategy.
What can’t the community influence?
- The development of the
Strategies.
- The term of relevancy
attributed the strategies.
- The dates, timelines and
milestones involved in the development, service delivery and
implementation of the Strategies.
- Council’s budgetary
process and strategy financial allocations (this is subject to separate
community engagement on the annual budget).
- Alignment to any
legislative, anti-discriminatory, ethical, and culturally sensitive
requirements/guidelines.
Stakeholders and community
This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.
Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project / matter
Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated
Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum
Stakeholder / community | Impact | Interest | Influence |
| Bayside City Council staff | H | H | Consult |
| Bayside residents | H | H | Consult |
| Bayside students and youth groups | H | H | Consult |
| Bayside Sports Clubs and members | H | H | Consult |
| Bayside advisory and representative committees:
| M | H | Consult |
| Recreational and sporting business owners and employees | M | M | Consult |
| Volunteer groups/ organisations | M | M | Consult |
| Visitors to Bayside | M | L | Consult |
Selected tools and techniques
The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.
Key tools for communicating the project
- Project page on Have Your Say engagement platform
- Direct email to relevant Have Your Say members
- Direct e-mail to community members/groups that have an interest in sport and recreation, and council strategy development
- Signage at Bayside’s recreation facilities
- Let's Talk Bayside magazine
- This Week in Bayside (Council e-newsletter)
- Council website (news story)
- Social media
- In the Loop
Key methods for gathering feedback
- Online consultation via Council’s Have Your Say platform, including opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback
- Contact details for interested community members to ask for further information or provide feedback
- Face-to-face engagement sessions
- 25 October - Bayside Children’s Week event, 76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham 9:30am-12pm
- 5 November - Middle Brighton Baths, 12pm - 2pm
- 9 November – Hampton East Market, Basterfield Park, 10am to 2pm
- 15 November - Sandringham Family Leisure Centre (basketball entrance), 150 Tulip St, Cheltenham 9am – 12pm
- 22 November - Bayside Farmers Market, Trey Bit Reserve, 37 Jetty Rd, Sandringham 8:30am – 12pm
- Printed materials, as required
Project timeline
| Community engagement on draft Strategies | Active | 21 October - 25 November 2025 |
| Collate and consider feedback and draft revisions | Incomplete | October 2025 - January 2026 |
| Strategy adopted | Incomplete | Council is anticipated to adopt the strategy early 2026 |
| Implementation of actions | Incomplete | 2026 – 2036 |
Decision-making process
We’ll engage the community in a 5-week campaign to gather feedback on the draft Recreation Strategy, and feedback to help inform the draft Aquatics Strategy.
Feedback will help to inform amendments to the draft Recreation Strategy before being presented to Council for endorsement. It is expected that Council will consider the strategy for adoption early 2026.
We anticipate presenting the draft Aquatics Strategy the community for feedback early to mid-2026.
Meeting agendas are published one week prior to scheduled meetings. Interested community members can make a submission or request to speak at a meeting in relation to this project.
Please select the +Subscribe button at the top of the page to receive updates about this project, including when it will be considered by Council and any further opportunities to participate in this project.
More information
- Recreation Strategy
David Nankervis
Recreation and Events Coordinator
03 9599 4838
- Aquatics Strategy
Belinda Griffiths
Recreation Projects Coordinator
03 9599 4881
