Updated - 11 February 2021

A report will be presented at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday 16 February to update Council on a revised proposal put forward by Brighton Grammar School (BGS) regarding the upgrade of the sportsground facilities at Wilson Recreation Reserve.

The revised proposal has been put forward by Brighton Grammar School (BGS) requesting to focus only on reconstructing the sportsground and not construct a pavilion with a 21 year licence agreement at the Reserve.

Under this proposal, BGS will upgrade the sportsground with new drainage, irrigation and turf, maintain this reconstructed sportsground to BGS standards and seek a nine year licence that reflects the School’s current use of the Reserve.

The revised proposal is in response to discussions between Council, neighbours, community groups and the BGS to find a resolution to the issues raised about the pavilion development.

As a result of these discussions, BGS has withdrawn their previous application and decided to submit a revised solution that met the needs of all stakeholders. The change of focus for the improvements for Wilson Recreation Reserve will result in favourable outcomes for the wider community.

The Reserve will remain accessible for passive or active community use, when not allocated for community or school sports activities, all year round. The sportsground will also be allocated by Council for summer use by local Bayside cricket clubs, including Brighton Cricket Club.

The report recommends that Council:

  • Commences discussions to develop a 9 year licence agreement with Brighton Grammar School, in accordance with Council’s Lease and Licence Policy, for use of the upgraded sportsground at Wilson Recreation Reserve, Brighton that reflects Brighton Grammar School’s current usage for winter School rugby, lunch break overflow and physical education/sports lessons
  • consults with Bayley House to ensure that the existing cooperative arrangement with Brighton Grammar School regarding shared passive use of Wilson Reserve as a weekday break out space for students and clients continues unchanged
  • Ensures that local Bayside community cricket clubs, including Brighton Cricket Club are provided priority to apply for summer sporting allocation for the months of October to March
  • Develops a Memorandum of Understanding that details Brighton Grammar School’s financial commitment to upgrade the sportsground at Wilson Recreation Reserve, Brighton
  • Works with Brighton Grammar School to undertake indigenous understorey planting in appropriate areas of Wilson Recreation Reserve
  • Notifies nearby residents including representatives of the local resident action group ‘Save Wilson Recreation Reserve’ of the outcomes of this report.

The full report is available on Council’s website, item 10.3.


Stay updated

This page will be updated with the plans shortly, you will then have the opportunity to ask questions of staff regarding the school's proposal.

A report, detailing officer’s initial assessment of the proposal was presented at the 28 April Ordinary meeting of Council. You can read the full report on Council's website.

At this meeting it was resolved:

That Council:

  1. Provides in-principle support for Brighton Grammar School to commence the Statutory Planning process to construct a sports pavilion at Wilson Recreation Reserve, Brighton;
  2. Commences discussions to develop a 21 year licence agreement with Brighton Grammar School for use of upgraded sportsground and pavilion facilities at Wilson Recreation Reserve, Brighton that reflects Brighton Grammar School’s current usage for winter School rugby, lunch break overflow and physical education/sports lessons;
  3. Consults with Bayley House to ensure that the existing cooperative arrangement with Brighton Grammar School regarding shared passive use of Wilson Reserve as a weekday break out space for students and clients continues unchanged and that construction and location of the proposed sports pavilion not unreasonably impede or restrict direct access from the Bayley House site;
  4. Ensures that local Bayside community cricket clubs, including Brighton Cricket Club are consulted during the construction design process and provided priority to apply for summer sporting allocation for the months of October to March;
  5. Develops a Memorandum of Understanding that details Brighton Grammar School’s financial commitment to upgrade the sportsground and construct a sports pavilion at Wilson Recreation Reserve, Brighton; and
  6. Receives a report at a future Council meeting detailing the outcome of the Statutory Planning and license agreement negotiation processes.