Between 21 October and 25 November, we asked the community to provide feedback about the draft Recreation Strategy to help us understand if it reflected community needs and priorities, to identify gaps and opportunities not yet considered, and to help determine the strategy framework to guide future recreation planning, infrastructure investment and service delivery across the municipality.

More than 1,200 community and stakeholder touchpoints were recorded, and feedback was gathered through multiple channels, including 238 online survey responses, 319 social map submissions, input from approximately 650 participants at 6 in-person engagement events and 55 participants at 6 targeted meetings, with 8 direct submissions also received.

Key themes of feedback

Across all engagement channels, feedback was broadly consistent and reinforced several recurring themes:

• support for the overall intent and direction of the draft Strategy
• demand for informal, everyday recreation opportunities alongside strengthening organised sport
• gaps in provision for youth, teenagers and young adults
• concern regarding the lack of contemporary aquatic facilities
• importance of safety, accessibility and extended hours of use through lighting and amenity upgrades
• place-based views for key sites, including Thomas Street, Elsternwick Park North sports precinct (noting specific line of survey questioning for these sites) and selected neighbourhood parks

Key considerations for Council

• Balancing informal recreation and organised sport Feedback highlighted growing demand for informal activities such as walking, running, cycling, outdoor fitness, casual court use and play, alongside traditional club-based sport. This reflects changing participation patterns and the need for flexible, multi-use spaces.
• Addressing gaps for youth, teenagers and older childrenA consistent theme was the lack of suitable facilities for youth and young adults aged 12 - 25, particularly basketball courts, skateparks, BMX and MTB facilities, pump tracks and multipurpose youth-friendly spaces.
• Responding to place-based demand and conflicting expectationsCertain locations generated highly concentrated and sometimes conflicting feedback, including advocacy for specific infrastructure at the former netball facility on Thomas Street Hampton, alongside calls to protect passive or quieter park character at sites such as Elsternwick Park South and Landcox Park.
• Recognising aquatics as a strategic, municipality-wide issueThe absence of a modern, accessible aquatic facility emerged as one of the most consistent themes across age groups, suburbs and engagement methods. Participants highlighted the need for lap swimming, warm water, rehabilitation and inclusive facilities.
• Improving safety, accessibility and year-round useLighting, toilets, seating, shade, paths and accessible amenities were repeatedly raised as essential enablers of participation, particularly for women, older adults and people with disability.
• Strengthening clarity, prioritisation and deliverability of actionsWhile there is broad support for the Strategy’s vision and intent, feedback from community members, advisory groups and sporting clubs highlighted a desire for clearer, more tangible actions, priorities and timeframes. Some participants expressed uncertainty about how and when actions would be implemented, how decisions would be made, and how progress would be tracked over the 10-year period.

More information

Read the full community engagement summary report.

Next steps

Council is considering the Recreation Strategy for adoption at its 21 April 2026 meeting.

Council meeting 6.30pm, Tuesday 21 April 2026

• Read the agenda
• Ask a question
• Request to be heard
• Watch the meeting