To improve the quality and sustainability of sports infrastructure at Wilson Recreation Reserve to address high levels of participation and evolving needs of organised sports and unstructured activity.

To understand community views on Brighton Grammar School’s (BGS) proposal to renew Wilson Recreation Reserve and manage sportsground maintenance over a nine-year license agreement.

The sportsground reconstruction will address drainage issues at the site, replacement of the centre synthetic cricket wicket, utilise drought tolerant instant turf and a new irrigation system and low level chain link fencing along Outer Crescent to minimise the risk of balls entering the roadway and ensure the sportsground can manage the high level of shared use.

A license agreement will be consistent with BGS current and historical use of the reserve for rugby (since 2004), physical education, and lunch break overflow. BGS has retracted their original proposal to construct a pavilion at the site.

The reserve will remain accessible for passive or active community use, when not allocated for community or school sports activities. The sportsground will continue to be allocated by Council for use by local cricket clubs and other schools within the municipality. Bayley House will continue to use the reserve for scheduled activities.

This consultation focuses specifically on the proposal put forward by BGS with consideration to impacts this proposal may have on the availability of open space within the local area.

It is important to note that the proposed License agreement will reduce resident access to the reserve for a period of up to nine years. The proposed license provides BGS with exclusive access to the sportsground at the times agreed in the Licence.

Activities within Bayside’s municipal reserves are regulated under Division 2 of the Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law. In this context, this means that access to the playing area of a municipal reserve during a sports match or gathering is restricted to players, competitors and officials while training or competition is in progress.

We want to gather feedback from the nearby residents and users of the reserve including Brighton Cricket Club and Bayley House on the Brighton Grammar School proposal.

• The community can provide their views for consideration by Council on the proposal put forward by Brighton Grammar School to renew the sportsground at Wilson Recreation Reserve
• Landscaping and fencing considerations

• Recreation types on Wilson Reserve (it will remain used for cricket, rugby and passive recreation including dog walking)
• Use of the reserve for other purposes – it will continue to be used as a sportsground.
• Improvements to car parking
• Upgrades to Brighton Recreation Centre (Feedback on the design for upgrading Brighton Recreation Centre will be gathered as a separate consultation process later in 2021.)
• Retracted proposal for a sports pavilion (excluded from scope)
• Terms of the license agreement

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.

Due to the wide-ranging impacts, individuals groups have not been named but listed in categories.

Impact: What level of change will the stakeholder / community segment 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. This project has been assigned at the ‘Consult’ level. This means we will keep you informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision.

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought. The unpredictable impact of COVID-19 may restrict our ability for face-to-face communication, as well as slower distribution of mail.

• Direct liaison with Bayley House, Brighton Grammar School, Brighton Cricket Club and Save the Wilson Recreation Reserve Group.
• Letters distributed to residents within 500m of the Reserve, including aged care facility
• Social media, especially 'sponsored' posts targeted to residents living in Brighton to increase audience reach
• Council's e-newsletter This Week in Bayside
• Email notification to Have Your Say members
• Direct emails to key stakeholder groups
• Printed flyer with QR code for online survey at Brighton Recreation Centre
• Pop up face-to-face engagement sessions at Wilson Recreation Reserve

• Online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunity to ask questions, as well as provide feedback via a survey or written statement.
• Bookable meetings with project team to ask questions and submit feedback
• Printed survey and engagement materials distributed on request
• Direct conversations with key stakeholder groups
• Provisions to provide feedback anonymously or via post.

Wilson Recreation Reserve remains Council-owned public open space regardless of any proposed licence agreement with BGS.

Council will work closely with BGS to find a solution for the site that meets the requirements for sport while balancing the needs of local residents, key stakeholders and the wider community.

It is expected that Council will consider the results of the community feedback at its meeting on 17 August 2021. The agenda, including the community engagement report and Council officer's recommendation in relation to proposed investment by BGS will be published on 11 August 2021 via Council's website. The report will also include an assessment of the proposal against Council’s Open Space Strategy 2012.

Project subscribers will be notified of the results of the engagement via email once the agenda is published.

All Council meetings are live-streamed via Council’s website. Community members can also ask a question or request to be heard at this meeting.

Please select the ‘subscribe’ button at the top of this page to receive updates about this project.

If you would like more information, please contact Sara Townsend, on 9599 4318 or stownsend@bayside.vic.gov.au