Project objective
We’re committed to ensuring Bayside’s recreation facilities meet the evolving and varied needs of our community.
To deliver a key action of the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2022-26, we’re continuing the winter sportsground lighting program to better understand opportunities to facilitate structured and safe community access to Bayside sportsgrounds, on winter evenings outside of training and match allocation times.
Sportsground lighting will be turned on at three off-leash sportsgrounds while they are not being used for community sport:
- RJ Sillitoe Reserve, Lawson St, Hampton on Mondays, 5pm – 8pm (enter via Lawson Street)
- William Street Reserve, William St, Brighton on Fridays, 5pm – 8pm
- RG Chisholm Reserve, Duncan St, Sandringham on Fridays, 6:30pm – 8:30pm (following footy training)
The program will commence 5 June 2023 and run until 2 September 2023.
Project impacts
The purpose of the program is to understand if the additional evening access to lit sportsgrounds during the winter months is of benefit to local dog owners, and the impact on sportsgrounds. We’ll measure program participation and undertake sportsground inspections to access ground and turf integrity.
To select locations for the program, sportsgrounds were assessed against three key criteria:
- Are identified Dog Off Leash areas,
- Has no scheduled sporting activity during the allocated hours, and
- Has available sportsground lighting.
The three sportsgrounds selected met the above criteria and were identified as suitable locations for the 2022 trial, and continuation of the program during the 2023 winter.
Following the 2022 trial, Council officers sought to include more locations for the 2023 program. However, due to the high participation in sport in Bayside, other sportsgrounds which met the above criteria were not identified.
The impact of high community use of sportsgrounds, recent severe weather, and increased incidents of dogs digging sportsground turf rendering the ground in need to repair for safe use, has led to the extension of the community feedback period to ensure longer term data can be considered by Council.
The program will be evaluated using a range of data (see decision-making process section below) to determine if this program should continue, be amended, or expanded.
What information do we need from the community?
We want to understand community experiences of the program to help us determine if it should continue, be amended, or expanded.
What can the community influence?
- If the winter program is continued, amended or expanded
- Off-leash sportsgrounds to be considered for future use, should the program continue
- Program amendments
What can’t the community influence?
- Section criteria for sportsgrounds to be included in the 2023 program
- Duration of the winter 2023 program (5 June – 2 September 2023)
- Days, times, and locations for the 2023 program
- Infrastructure changes to sportsgrounds, e.g. provision of gates
- Council reserves the right to discontinue the delivery of the program without notice and for any reason, however particular notice will be placed on the condition of sportsgrounds and behaviour of pet owners in regard to responsible pet ownership.
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 |
| Dog owners | M | H | Consult |
| Dog-owner community groups | M | H | Consult |
| Resident sports clubs | H | H | Consult |
| Neighbouring residents | M | M | Consult |
| General Bayside community | L | 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
- Signage at sportsgrounds included in the program
- Postcards distributed to residents within approx. 350-500m radius of sportsgrounds, and available at Bayside libraries and Corporate Centre.
- Website news stories and This Week in Bayside e-newsletter
- Direct email to key stakeholders
- Social media
- Local Laws Officer patrols
Key methods for gathering feedback
- Online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback
- Conversations with Local Laws Officer on patrol at sportsground included in the program
- Correspondence including email, phone, and mail.
Project timelines
- Year 1 Winter off-leash sportsground lighting trial 2022
30 May - 19 August 2022
Read how we engaged with the community
- Evaluation
September - October 2022
- Year 2 Winter off-leash sportsground lighting program 2023
5 June – 2 September 2023
- Evaluation
September - November 2023
- Consideration by Council
Stakeholder and community feedback will be presented to Council to consider
sportsground lighting program continuation, amendment, or expansion.
Expected December 2023
Decision-making process
Evaluation of the program will include local community feedback from dog owners, sports clubs, and neighbouring residents to understand their experiences through an online survey, written submissions, online Q&A forum, direct correspondence, and special request meetings.
Local Laws Officers will regularly collect feedback from participants during program hours and observe compliance to pet owner responsibilities.
Regular ground inspections will also be undertaken to monitor sportsground integrity, in particular uncollected poo and holes dug by dogs which require urgent maintenance to prevent injury.
It is important to note sportsground condition naturally deteriorates over the winter season because of weather, inability to grow grass in cooler conditions and increased recreational sports use. While regular monitoring and evaluation is part of this program, this will be balanced against the respective winter sport loading and associated weather conditions that also contribute to ground conditions.
Council reserves the right to discontinue the delivery of the program without notice and for any reason, however particular notice will be placed on the condition of sportsgrounds and behaviour of pet owners in regard to responsible pet ownership.
Program information gathered throughout the 2022-23 winter months, including community and stakeholder feedback, is expected to be considered by Council at its December 2023 meeting as part of the Domestic Animal Management Plan. Read the report on community feedback from Year 1 of the trial.
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More information
David Nankervis
Recreation and Events Coordinator | Open Space & Recreation
D 03 9599 4838
