Sports Facility

Development Plan

Updated 2023

Brimbank City Council respectfully acknowledges and recognises the Wurundjeri and Bunurong Peoples

as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and future.

Contents

Community consultation

6

The key principles

7

Participation

7

Community development

7

Affordability

7

Accessibility

7

Equitable usage

7

Flexibility

7

Sustainability

7

Value for money

7

Community Profile

8

Age

8

Socio-economic profile

9

Health in Brimbank

9

Cultural diversity

10

COVID-19

10

Progress to date

12

Facility provision

15

Sports facilities

15

Sports pavilions

15

Brimbank’s outdoor sports surfaces 15

Brimbank’s Indoor Sports Facilities 16

Sports facility distribution

18

Brimbank South Outdoor Facilities 18

Brimbank North Outdoor Facilities 22

Brimbank Indoor Facilities

25

Determining the facilities required

for development

26

Strategy 1.1:

Optimise the use of existing

sports facilities in Brimbank

28

Priority actions

28

Allocation of facilities

28

Management of facilities

29

Maintenance of facilities

29

Capital contributions

29

Club development

29

Strategy 1.2:

Develop additional facilities at

existing sports sites in Brimbank

30

Priority actions

30

Strategy 1.3:

Develop new sports facilities

30

Priority actions

30

Strategy 1.4:

Develop partnership agreements

with neighbouring municipalities

and local organisations

32

Priority actions

32

Facts

35

Brimbank’s sports clubs

35

Casual/Social sport

35

Women and girls participation growth 35

Niche sports

36

Sport Growth Trends

36

Athletics

36

Australian Rules Football

36

Badminton

37

Baseball

37

Basketball

37

Bowls

38

Cricket

38

Netball

39

Niche Sports

39

Other Sports

39

Rugby Union

39

Rugby League

40

Soccer

40

Softball

41

Table Tennis

41

Tennis

42

Volleyball

42

Outdoor Facility Development

44

Facility development matrix

score system

45

Pavilion development

46

Rolling Programs

47

Inclusive Facility Upgrades

47

Kitchen Upgrade

47

Sports Surface Reconstruction

47

New Sportsgrounds

47

Sportsground Lighting

47

Sports Reserves Car Parks

47

Sportsground Irrigation

Upgrades/Installation

47

Sports Netting

47

Warm Season Grass Conversion

47

Partnerships

47

Tennis Court Resurfacing

47

Sporting Infrastructure

47

Rolling Program Priority Listings

48

Rolling Program Minimum Standards 52

Outdoor Sport Facility Standards

54

Build New

54

Refurbish Existing

54

Secondary Facilities

54

Standard Facility Components

54

Sports Facility Standards

55

Indoor Facility Development

60

Indoor spo rts facility hierarchy

60

Facility requirements

61

Shared facilities

61

Assessment of available Council

owned sites and other opportunities

for development

61

Council Owned Sites

62

Strategic Site Assessment Criteria 64

Site Scoring

64

Analysis

65

Map of potential future sites

in Brimbank

66

Development of this Sports Facility Development

Plan has included a significant level of community

consultation and engagement over the past decade.

Consultation with local sporting clubs and the Brimbank

community has been ongoing since 2011 and has been

a five-stage approach.

The purpose of Stage 1 in 2012 was to explore both

current and projected sports club membership data

and to explore issues and barriers to the growth of

Brimbank sports clubs. This included club surveys

and focus group workshops with Council’s sports

club networks and sporting associations. The Draft

Sports Facility Development Plan and all supporting

documentation were made available for community

review. A community information session was also

held to provide interested community members

with information about the Draft Sports Facility

Development Plan ahead of Stage 2 Engagement.

The focus of Stage 2 in 2012 was community

engagement through ‘community discussion

workshops’ and written community feedback.

The workshops featured a presentation by

Council Officers and opportunities for community

members to have input into the Draft Sports

Facility Development Plan. The sessions were

supported by a range of media and written

communications including advertising in local

newspapers, a mail out to all Brimbank sports

clubs, content on Council’s website, and ‘frequently

asked questions’ sheets.

In Stage 3 in 2012, community engagement

feedback was incorporated into the Plan, giving rise

to key amendments as follows:

• A new Facility Assessment Matrix was developed

based on detailed feedback .Projects were

assessed accordingly and ranked in order of

priority.

• Sports growth trends were updated to

reflect additional data provided by sporting

associations and local clubs.

The fourth stage of reviewing this document was

carried out in 2016. This stage in 2016 included

reviewing all sporting trends and assessing the

current sporting needs of the community to ensure

that the priorities set out in this plan continue

to reflect the community’s needs. Following the

review and update of this document the plan

was made available for public comment prior to

finalisation and adoption by Council.

The 2018 and 2023 updates considers detailed

functional and compliance audits of sports facilities

and provides the latest affiliated membership data

provided by relevant State Sporting Associations.

This new data has been used to assess, and

prioritise, projects and inform the Facility

Development Matrix and rolling funding programs

currently offered by Council.

Broader participation, facility development trends

and guidelines released by the sports sector have

also been considered in the updated document.

The 2023 update also included a Gender Impact

Assessment to ensure the Plan will meet different

needs of women, men and gender diverse people.

This step is to create better and fairer outcomes,

and make sure all people have equal access to

opportunities and resources. Consultation of

the draft Plan proactively sought feedback from

women, people who identify as LGBTIQ+, people

with a disability and young people.

The 2023 update also includes the consolidation of

the Indoor Sports Facilities Feasibility Study 2020,

which was developed utilising staged approach as

outlined for the Plan.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 7

A focus on gender equitable facilities is also of high

priority to Council. This aligns with Victoria’s Gender

Equality Act 2020 and its requirements including the

Victorian State Governments Fair Access Policy.

It is critical that all sports facilities that are upgraded

or built new as planned within this document to

incorporate gender neutral design.

Flexibility

By ensuring that future sporting facilities are, where

appropriate, flexibly designed, they will be able to be

used by a range of community groups and for a variety

of activities.

Sustainability

Environmental and financial sustainability is a key

consideration for all future developments. Future

sports facilities will be designed and managed to

ensure such sustainability.

Value for money

All recommendations will be have a focus on cost

efficiency. Proposed sports facilities will be cost

efficient, fit for purpose, and give value for money for

Council and other potential funding providers.

This Sports Facility Development Plan is aligned to

the following current Council Policies and Plans that

together define the direction and objectives of Council.

• Together We Are Brimbank Plan incorporating the

Community Vision 2040, Council Plan 2021-2025

and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.

• Brimbank Social Justice Charter

• Brimbank Community Services and Infrastructure

Plan 2018 – 2038

• Fairness, Equality and Respect Strategy 2019-2023

• Brimbank Climate Emergency Plan

• Environmentally Sustainable Design

Framework 2017

• Creating Better Parks – Open Space and Playground

Policy and Plan

• Growing Brimbank – The Brimbank Collaboration

• Brimbank Physical Activity Strategy

Providing the community with access to inclusive,

well developed sports facilities and pathways plays a

key role in achieving Councils strong commitment to

supporting and developing sport as an integral part

of its broader community development, health and

wellbeing approach. This provision is underpinned by

the following key principles, which will guide the future

provision of sports facilities in Brimbank.

Participation

This Plan and Council’s future provision of sports

facilities in Brimbank is underpinned by a desire

to encourage the participation in sports for

the overall health and wellbeing of the entire

Brimbank community.

Community development

Council aims to promote community growth and

development by providing places for people to gather

and participate in a range of sporting activities to

encourage participation in physical activity and foster

social interaction.

Affordability

It is important to ensure that sports facilities and

activities are affordable so that all sectors of the

Brimbank community can afford to participate in

sporting activities. Inclusivity requires the provision

of sporting opportunities for lower income residents.

Council is committed to providing low cost sporting

opportunities to the community to ensure that those

experiencing disadvantage can participate in sport.

Accessibility

All new and upgraded sports facilities must be

accessible to as many people as possible and have

a focus on universal design. Facilities must provide

a welcoming and inclusive environment for all

participants regardless of their gender, age, ability,

disability, cultural background, sexual orientation/

identity or any other differentiating factors that

contribute to the diversity of our communities.

Equitable usage

Future developments must ensure sports facilities

are equitably distributed across the City. This will

guarantee fair and equitable access to Brimbank

sports facilities for all people and groups within

the community. A focus on creating an equitable

distribution of sports facilities and developing physical

linkages between them must be maintained.

8 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

As stated, it is a primary aim of this Plan to facilitate

the provision of adequate sports facilities for the

improvement of the overall health and wellbeing of the

Brimbank Community. As such, community interests,

needs and aspirations, actual participation trends,

and demographic characteristics have guided the

development of this plan, and should inform future

sports facility development decisions.

Age

The estimated resident population of Brimbank in 2021

was 196,712, with an equal percentage of males and

females. According to the 2021 Census data, over half

(52.9%) were under the age of 40 years. Compared

with the Western Region, Brimbank had a lower

percentage of residents aged under 25 years (30.0%

vs. 32.7%), and almost the equivalent to Greater

Melbourne (30.4%) and Victoria (29.9%).

Over one-fifth (22.1%) of residents in Brimbank were

aged 60 years and over, compared with 16.6% for the

Western Region, 20.2% for Greater Melbourne, and

22.4% for Victoria.

Between 2021 and 2031, Brimbank is expected to have

grown in population by approximately 14,542 additional

people, to 211,254 by 2031. By 2031, Brimbank is

forecast to have 15,541 children aged 5 to 11 years (an

expected decrease of 880 since 2021 for children in

this age group). Sunshine North and Sunshine West

are expected to have the largest increases of children

in this cohort (an additional 297 and 115 respectively),

whilst Deer Park and Derrimut are expected to have

largest decreases of children aged 5 to 11 years (505

and 471 respectively).

In relation to secondary school aged children (12 to 17

years of age), Brimbank is forecast to have 14,481 in

this cohort (an expected increase of 964 since 2021).

Sunshine North and St Albans North are expected

to have the largest increases of children in this

cohort (additional 196 and 153 respectively), whilst

Sydenham-Hillside and Cairnlea are expected to have

the largest decreases (101 and 93 respectively).

The tertiary education and independence years age

cohort (18 to 24 years) is forecast to have 20,930

residents by 2031 (an increase of approximately 2,574

in this age group since 2021). Sunshine is expected to

have the largest increase of residents in this age group

(additional 651 residents), followed by Sunshine North

(additional 386 residents), whilst Taylors Lakes – Keilor

Lodge and Delahey are expected to have the largest

decreases (193 and 134 respectively).

The prime working age years of 25 to 59 years is

forecast to have 101,452 residents by 2031 (an

increase of approximately 6,878 in this age group

since 2021). Sunshine is expected to have the largest

increase of residents in this age group (additional 2,212

residents), followed by Sunshine North (additional

1,691 residents), whilst Delahey is expected to have

the largest decrease (decrease of 683 residents,

followed by Taylors Lakes – Keilor Lodge (decrease of

509 residents).

Brimbank is forecast to experience a gradual ageing of

the population in the next decade, with those residents

aged 65 years and over forecast to account for close

to one-fifth (35,701 residents; 16.9%) of the total

forecast population of Brimbank by 2031 (an expected

increase of approximately 4,496 residents in this age

group since 2021.

Research shows that people are most active and are

more likely to engage in formal sporting activities

between the ages of 5 to 39 years. Ausplay (the

national participation data for the sports sector)

found that the peak age group for participation in

sport related activities is 15-17 years (88%), followed

by 18-24 years (68%). There is a slight drop off in

participation in the 25-34 and 35-44 year age cohorts

(65%) and a fairly significant decline in participation

beyond these age groups.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 9

Socio-economic profile

According to the Index of Relative Socio-economic

Disadvantage (IRSD), Brimbank is the second most

disadvantaged municipality in the Greater Melbourne

area, and the third most disadvantaged in Victoria.

However, the level of disadvantage is unevenly spread

throughout the municipality. Compared to areas with

low socio-economic disadvantage (higher IRSD), areas

with high levels of socio-economic disadvantage –

such as Kings Park, St Albans North and St Albans

South – are likely to have a higher proportion of people:

unemployed, on low incomes, with low educational

attainment, and working in relatively low skilled jobs.

These areas are also more likely to have a higher

proportion of households with no access to a motor

vehicle and no internet connection.

According to the Index of Relative Socio-economic

Disadvantage (IRSD), the levels of disadvantage in

2016 were unevenly distributed across the suburbs

of Brimbank. The areas with the highest level of

disadvantage were Kings Park, St Albans North and

St Albans South, and the areas with the lowest level

of disadvantage were Keilor and Taylors Lakes –

Keilor Lodge.

Affordable access to sporting activities is vital to the

Brimbank community. The provision of facilities that

can be accessed by public transport and activities that

are low-cost will enable involvement by some residents

that otherwise would not be able to participate in

sporting activities.

Health in Brimbank

In 2017, the percentage (38.3%) of adult residents in

Brimbank undertaking sufficient physical activity to

confer a health benefit, was significantly lower than

the percentage for the West Division (48.8%) and

Victoria (50.9%). Women in Brimbank in particular were

reporting significant levels of sedentary behaviours

(10.4%), compared to men in Brimbank (5.2%) and

women in Victoria (2.8%).

In 2020, the percentage (23.9%) of adults in Brimbank

classified as obese, was higher than the percentage

of adults in the West Division (21.7%) and Victoria

(20.9%), however, the differences were not significant.

According to the 2021 Census data, over one-quarter

(28.3%) of Brimbank residents reported having at least

one long-term health condition, compared with 26.9%

in the Western Region, 29.5% in Greater Melbourne

and 31.4% in Victoria.

Physical activity has been identified as an important

contributor to maintaining good overall health. The

amount of time spent on physical activity has long

been a focus for research and policy makers. Low levels

of activity are identified as a risk factor for a range of

health conditions, including cardiovascular disease,

diabetes and osteoporosis, as well as being a strong

contributor to levels of obesity.

Sports facility provision provides opportunities for the

community to participate in both informal and formal

sports activities and enables the community to become

more active and lead healthier lives.

Given the comparative poor health of Brimbank

residents and their lower participation rates in sport,

it is important that Council ensures there is sufficient

provision of sporting facilities across the City for

residents to access sports clubs and sporting programs.

It is also important that there is an opportunity for the

community to participate in informal sporting activities

by providing sports facilities that allow for unorganised

sports participation such as casual and social games.

10 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Cultural diversity

According to the 2021 Census, over half (57.3%) of

Brimbank residents spoke a language other than

English at home, and there were more than 160

different languages spoken. Brimbank had a far smaller

proportion (36.3%) of residents speaking English only,

compared to the Western Region (50.8%) and Greater

Melbourne (61.1%).

The cultural diversity of the Brimbank community

means that there are varied sporting needs to consider

when providing sports facilities in Brimbank. Particular

sports have higher participation rates in Brimbank

than the state average. For example, there has been

a significant increase in soccer participation in the

municipality due to the overall increase in the migrant

population and African-born residents specifically.

Traditionally, new migrants are more likely to

participate in sport if they are able to do so with people

from their own culture. This is particularly relevant for

people from emerging communities who want to feel

safe and welcome in their new environments.

Council needs to provide culturally appropriate facilities

and programs that cater for this diverse community.

Council should support these groups by providing

facilities that allow for cultural groups to play sport

together in the short term with the aim of integrating

them into the wider sporting community in the medium

to long term.

It is therefore critical for Council to require existing

sports clubs who operate on Council facilities or

receive financial support to become more inclusive and

welcoming to the diverse cultural groups in Brimbank.

COVID-19

Brimbank is one of Australia’s most culturally diverse

municipalities. As a result of waves of migration over

many years, a high proportion of Brimbank residents

were born overseas, many in countries where English

is not the predominant language. Some of Brimbank’s

neighbourhoods experience complex disadvantage,

intergenerational vulnerability and a lack of resources

that pre-date the pandemic. These conditions made

the community especially vulnerable to both the

health effects and the economic impact of the global

COVID-19 Pandemic. Brimbank is Melbourne’s second

most disadvantaged LGA and, at the height of the

pandemic, had the second highest number of COVID-19

cases in Australia (2,001). Of the 600 aged care deaths

in Victoria by September 2020, 64 (more than one in

ten) were in Brimbank facilities.

State Government enforced COVID-19 restrictions

had a significant effect on Brimbank Sports clubs with

many seasons significantly impacted affecting the

ability of clubs to provide important health and social

connections to the Brimbank community. In addition,

financial pressure mounted on Brimbank residents

which impacted on their ability to continue with sports

club involvement in the immediate COVID-19 recovery

phase. It is important that Council continues to invest

in sporting infrastructure in order to support sports

clubs in providing as many sporting opportunities to

Brimbank residents as possible.

2. Providing

Sporting

Opportunities

in Brimbank

12 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

This Plan aims to facilitate the improved health,

wellbeing, and community cohesion of the people of

Brimbank by growing and supporting the community’s

participation in sport. As such, this Plan outlines

strategies to ensure the provision of sporting facilities

and opportunities for community members of all

abilities, backgrounds, genders, ages, and experience.

These strategies include both the optimisation of

existing facilities and the development of new sporting

amenities, including a regional multi-sport facility.

Table 1:

Sports facility expenditure

2012/2013

$6,393,177

2013/2014

$6,437,914

2014/2015

$10,285,274

$650,000

2015/2016

$6,517,796

$193,000

2016/2017

$9,293,042

$355,230

2017/2018

$12,437,292

$144,270

2018/2019

$8,152,126

$1,289,371

2019/2020

$11,331,843

$250,000

2020/2021

$2,915,256*

$350,000

2021/2022

$13,728,041

$3,428,998

2022/2023

$8,943,362

#

$4,820,409

Notes:

* A number of large pavilion projects started in 2020/21 but were completed in 2021/22 where the

expenditure was captured

#

Planned expenditure based on adopted 2022/23 Capital Council budget.

Since the adoption of the Sports Facility Development

Plan in 2012, Council’s investment in sporting facilities

has been significant. Total expenditure on renewing

and upgrading sports pavilions and outdoor playing

surfaces is in excess of $96 million. The Plan has

also provided Council with a strong evidence base

to source external funding in the delivery of the

identified projects. Since 2012, Council has been

successful in securing $11,481,278 of external funding.

A breakdown of the expenditure and external grant

income over the financial years since 2012 is as follows;

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 13

Council has already made considerable progress in

dealing with the challenges involved in the provision

of sport and recreation facilities in Brimbank since

the adoption of the Sports Facility Development Plan

in 2012. The achievements since 2012 listed below

provide a solid basis that will maximise the benefits of

implementing the Sports Facility Development Plan’s

recommended actions.

sports pavilion renewals

new sportsgrounds

sports facility car

park upgrades

tennis court full

reconstruction

9 53 4 6 8

court extension at

Keilor Basketball

Netball Stadium

3 12

sportsground reconstructions

sportsground

lighting upgrades

14 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Sports Facility Hire, Licences and

Leases Agreement Policy (2014)

Community Facilities and

Reserves Allocation Policy (2014)

Community Facilities Capital

Development Policy (2016)

sportsground shade

structures installed

sports grounds with goal

posts replaced

sports reserves perimeter

fence upgrades

bin cages installed

sportsground irrigation

systems upgraded

tennis court

resurfacing upgrades

sports pavilion

kitchen upgrades

Joint User Agreement on Copperfields College Soccer Pitch

coaches boxes/ players

benches upgraded

storage

refurbishments

cricket net

replacements

14 36 15 11

14 19 8

1

29 10

6

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 15

The key findings of the Sports Facility Development

Plan, with respect to facility provision, are as follows.

Sports facilities

Brimbank City Council owns and allocates 54 sports

pavilions, 82 playing fields, pitches, diamonds, bocce

pistes and greens, 7 indoor courts and 64 outdoor

tennis courts.

Sports pavilions

To successfully cater for current and future needs

while also actively encouraging more participation

and sports development by residents, there needs

to be an appropriate provision of sports facilities

(fields, courts, greens and pavilions) across Brimbank.

A pavilion condition audit was undertaken as part of

the development of this Plan in 2011 and provided

baseline data. Pavilions were audited again in 2017 and

most recently in late 2022 using a customised facility

audit tool which collected detailed information on

the condition, functionality and compliance of sports

pavilions. Key findings and general observations noted

across pavilions, were those yet to be updated under

the Sports Facility Development Plan were:

• Generally run down with some reaching the end of

their useful life

• Disability access in most cases were poor due to the

age of the buildings

• Upgrading is required to comply with modern

standards

• Lacking a good kiosk/kitchen facilities that comply

with modern standards

• Amenities not suitable for female participation

While projects that have been delivered since the

development of this Plan have addressed these

observations, they continue to be prevalent across

Brimbank. Further investment and targeted funding

to upgrade sports pavilions will be required to ensure

facilities meet the needs of all user groups.

Brimbank’s outdoor sports surfaces

The 2022 facility audit included an assessment of all

outdoor sporting surfaces and collected information

on field of play size, condition, compliance, supporting

infrastructure and amenities. Surfaces were given a

rating which will be used to assess projects against

rolling program criteria.

The audits found sports surfaces:

• Were in reasonably good condition and suitable for

local community sport

• Required better drainage to support winter activity

• Had poor quality fencing

• Lacked supporting infrastructure such as seating,

weather protection, and shade

• Sub-standard lighting to accommodate training in

some cases

• Poor interchange areas.

As outlined in the ‘Progress to Date’ section, many

improvements have been made to Brimbank’s sports

surfaces and associated infrastructure to address the

above issues since the adoption of this Plan. However

further investment as per this updated plan is

required to ensure the minimum standards of sports

surface provision are delivered across all of Brimbank

sports surfaces.

16 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Brimbank’s Indoor Sports Facilities

The Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium is Council’s

premier indoor sports facility. Offering six indoor

courts, and home to major basketball and netball

associations, this facility is heavily utilised by Brimbank

residents and visitors from surrounding municipalities.

The West Sunshine Community Centre is the only other

indoor sports facility owned and managed by Council.

This centre exists to deliver physical activity and

educational opportunities to Brimbank residents.

In addition, Brimbank residents also require access to

school, universities and private facilities located within

and outside the municipality to accommodate their

need for indoor sports facilities.

A process to identify the current provision, access,

hierarchy, use, and compliance of all indoor sports

facilities within the western region was undertaken

as part of the Indoor Sports Feasibility Study 2020.

The following is a summary of key highlights from the

review and audit of current indoor court provision.

• 188 indoor courts were identified across the

western region, including courts in Brimbank,

Maribyrnong, Hume, Melton, Wyndham, Hobsons

Bay and Moonee Valley.

• 39 full size indoor courts were identified within

the City of Brimbank across a total of 29 venues.

This includes 7 Council owned courts, 28 courts on

school or university land and 4 courts on privately

owned land.

• Of the 29 venues in Brimbank, 27 are local level (1-2

courts), 1 is district (3-5 courts) and 1 regional (6+).

• 11 venues and 20 courts in Brimbank are utilisied by

Brimbank sporting user groups.

• 19 of the 23 school / university venues offer

community access.

• Four venues have undersized courts or halls

which were identified but generally have no

community access.

• 14 courts in Brimbank were audited including

Council and school courts.

Brimbank Anglican Church

1

Private

Keilor Basketball Association

Cairnlea Park Primary School

1

Education Malayalee Sports and Cultural

Association

Copperfield College – Sydenham

3

Education Keilor Basketball Association

Deer Park North Primary School

1

Education Keilor Basketball Association

Derrimut Sports Stadium

2

Keilor Basketball Association

Holy Eucharist Primary School

1

Private

Table Tennis

Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium

6

Council

Keilor Basketball Association,

St Albans and Caroline Springs

Netball Association

Loops Table Tennis Centre

1

Private

Health, Wellness and Table Tennis

Overnewton Anglican Community

College

2

Private

Keilor Basketball Association

Stevensville Primary School

1

Education Table Tennis

West Sunshine Community Centre

1

Council

Volleyball, Basketball, Netball

(training only)

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 17

Basketball is a main user of indoor courts in Brimbank.

The Keilor Basketball Association also access indoor

courts in Melton and Moonee Valley City Council’s

to accommodate training and competition needs.

Indoor courts at Buckley Park College, Keilor Park

Primary School, St Bernard’s College, St Christopher’s

Primary School (Moonee Valley) and Sydenham

Hillside Primary School (Melton) are all used by the

Keilor Basketball Association.

The availability of courts and development of other

indoor sports such as netball, badminton, table

tennis, volleyball and futsal is limited due to the high

use by basketball.

A detailed condition and compliance audit was

conducted at Council’s two indoor sports facilities

(KBNS and West Sunshine Community Centre) and the

following non-Council venues.

• Brimbank Anglican Church

• Derrimut Stadium

• Kings Park Primary School

• St Albans Heights Primary School

• St Albans Meadows Primary School

• Taylors Lakes Primary School

Facilities were assessed against relevant sporting

facility standards and guidelines to determine

compliance levels. A summary of key audit finding is

provided below.

• At KBNS courts 4,5 and 6 were rated as excellent,

with courts 1, 2 and 3 rated good.

• Other courts rated good were Brimbank Anglican

Church, Kings Park Primary School, St Albans

Heights Primary School and St Albans Meadows

Primary School.

• Both courts at the Derrimut Sports Stadium and the

single court at Taylors Lakes Primary School were

rated as moderate.

• No venue had a dedicated all gender or unisex

change room.

• Two venues had no home change rooms, 5 had a

good to excellent condition rating for home change

rooms and 1 had a moderate rating.

The following court surface rating definitions

were used:

• Excellent – as new

• Good – some wear

• Moderate – considerable wear but still playable

• Poor – multiple quality issues identified

• Very poor – significant quality issues identified

KBNS

Basketball, netball,

badminton, volleyball

Courts 1, 2 & 3 not netball

compliant (short run-offs)

West Sunshine Community Centre Basketball, netball,

badminton, futsal,

volleyball, indoor

hockey

Court not netball compliant

(short run-offs)

Brimbank Anglican Church

Basketball, netball

Court is compliant

No player

change rooms

Derrimut Stadium

Basketball, netball,

badminton, futsal

Courts are compliant

Kings Park PS

Volleyball

(training venue only) Not compliant

No player

change rooms

St Albans Heights PS

Basketball, netball,

badminton, volleyball

Court not netball compliant

(short run-offs)

St Albans Meadows PS

Basketball, netball,

badminton, volleyball

Court not netball compliant

(short run-offs)

Taylors Lakes PS

Basketball, netball

Court not full size

The following table provides a summary of primary and secondary use and compliance information for each venue

based on the audit findings. (Please note that courts being lined for a sport does not always mean that sport is at

that facility).

18 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

The distribution of sporting facility provision varies

markedly across areas of the municipality, with

patterns of distribution linked closely to the era when

suburban areas were developed.

Brimbank South Outdoor Facilities

The older Brimbank suburbs, which are concentrated

in the southern half of the municipality in the districts

of Sunshine and Deer Park, have a reasonably good

distribution of small, single field sporting reserves.

Generally, there is one sporting reserve located within

each large neighbourhood precinct within the Sunshine

district (Refer to map on page 19) and the Deer Park

district (Refer to map on page 20).

As a result, residents within these areas can

comfortably walk to local sporting reserves, with most

households located within a 500m radius of a reserve.

The majority of these single pitch sporting reserves

have unrestricted public access. Therefore, spaces for

informal sporting activities are locally accessible.

These types of facilities are ideal for community groups

and small clubs to provide local sport and recreation

opportunities. There is also particular interest for

the use of single field sites from local cultural groups

wishing to play informal games and casually use fields

for development purposes.

However, many of the reserves are allocated to

sporting clubs that use them most weekday evenings

and all weekend. Therefore:

• It is difficult for local community groups to access

the reserves at night or on weekends for a casual

and informal use.

• General public and school access to the reserves is

limited to weekday mornings and early afternoons.

Other concerns with single field facilities are that they:

• Do not easily accommodate club growth or the

expansion of facilities

• Can be problematic for nearby surrounding

residents in terms of noise and intrusion of balls and

spectators

• Do not generate economies of scale through the

optimal use of pavilions and associated facilities.

Kevin Flint Memorial Reserve (Cairnlea), Balmoral Park

(Derrimut) and Bon Thomas (Deer Park) are the three

exceptions in the southern part of the municipality

(Refer to map on page 20). Developed in recently

constructed suburbs, these reserves comprise multiple

playing fields and new, well-designed pavilions.

The St Albans local area draws on reserves from

adjoining local areas (Green Gully Reserve and

Kevin Flint Memorial Reserve) to augment what are

otherwise sparsely distributed local facilities. Many

sporting reserves in the St Albans Local Area are single

sport, single club facilities (Refer to map on page 21).

2023 Demographics Forecast

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 19

2023 Demographics Forecast

20 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

2023 Demographics Forecast

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 21

22 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Brimbank North Outdoor Facilities

Sporting facilities in the north of the municipality,

the districts of Keilor and Sydenham (Refer to maps

on pages 23 and 24), are principally aggregated at

two large sporting reserves: Keilor Park Recreation

Reserve (Keilor Park) and Green Gully Reserve (Keilor

Downs). These large reserves consist of facilities for

a range of sporting codes and are home to a number

of sporting clubs. These large reserves provide for

a broad catchment. Compared to the smaller, single

field reserves in the south, these reserves:

• Enable economies of scale to be generated for

associated infrastructure (for example, recycled

watering systems installed at each reserve to

irrigate numerous fields)

• Can accommodate large clubs

• Provide flexibility for the expansion of

club memberships

• Accommodate a hierarchy of facilities with varying

standards tailored to different levels of sport (from

local community based use to premier facilities).

The reserves are of a size that can accommodate

indoor facilities, recreational clubs and a range of

informal recreational activities (cycling pathways, kick

about spaces, picnic areas and playgrounds) and are,

therefore, recreational hubs that provide for a broad

sector of the community.

Although five smaller sporting reserves also exist

in the northern area (including Keilor Recreation

Reserve, Lionheart Reserve and Keilor Lodge Reserve)

there is not the local distribution of sporting reserves

that is provided in the south. Most residents in the

Sydenham local area are not within a reasonable

walking distance of a sporting reserve and depend on

private motor vehicles to access sporting facilities.

2023 Demographics Forecast

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 23

2023 Demographics Forecast

24 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 25

Brimbank Indoor Facilities

Indoor facilities with multiple courts will generally

have a primary catchment radius of 5 km and a

secondary catchment radius of 10km. By industry

standards it is widely assumed that 75% to 85% of

users will reside within a 5 km radius of a facility, with

the remaining 15% to 25% coming from areas within

the 5 km to 10 km radius.

Previous research has indicated that the future viability

of indoor stadiums may be affected by the range of

facilities that are located within the primary catchment.

A review of the membership base in 2020 of the

St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association confirms

that approximately 75% of members live within

5km and 10km of the KBNS and Copperfield College

(Sydenham), their two main venues in Brimbank.

Catchment and hierarchy are important elements when

planning and developing a sustainable facility. These

elements should also be considered alongside the

financial viability principle of Council investing only in

indoor facilities that provide four or more courts and

are located on Council owned land.

There is a specific gap in the current provision of

indoor courts in the southern part of the Brimbank

municipality, where much of the future population

growth is predicted. Sunshine and Sunshine North are

the hot spots for growth over the next ten years and

will need access additional indoor courts to ensure

future residents are adequately serviced. These areas

are currently serviced by RecWest in Maribyrnong.

Basketball Victoria confirmed the gap in indoor court

provision in this area for basketball, and the need for

more courts to service the growth of several local

basketball associations.

Summary of Brimbank Planning Districts Future Population and Indoor Court Provision

• 24 Indoor Venues

• 30 full size courts

• 6 council owned courts

In 2036:

• 113,041 residents

• 1 council court per

18,840 residents

• 1 court per 3,768 residents

• 6 indoor venues

• 10 full size courts

• 1 council owned court

In 2036:

• 108,291 residents

• 1 council court per

108,291 residents

• 1 court per 10,829 residents

26 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Over the life of this Plan, the actual sporting needs of

the Brimbank community will continue to evolve as

the population, individual sports, sports clubs, facility

standards and community expectations change.

The future facility development needs estimates

provided in the tables on the following pages are

indicative only. The intent is that Brimbank’s sporting

facility needs should continue to be reviewed and

refined over time, through detailed strategic planning

taking into consideration the resources (funding,

land, etc.) available to Council. The estimates for the

number of sports grounds, pitches and courts that are

required in Brimbank in the future have been made in

consideration of the following factors:

• The popular sports currently being played or are

emerging in Brimbank (soccer, AFL, cricket, baseball,

softball, lawn bowls, rugby union, rugby league,

athletics, tennis, netball, basketball, badminton,

volleyball, table tennis)

• The number of clubs, teams and members in each of

these sports

• The number of teams and/or players a sports

ground, pitch or surface can support

• The principle that there will be no reduction in

facility provision for any of these sports

• A common sense approach has been taken in

making reasonable estimates - a comparison

between what currently exists and the estimated

need gives an indication of any shortfall in facilities

for soccer, AFL, cricket, baseball, softball, rugby

union, rugby league, hockey, lawn bowls and

athletics. These estimates are conservative given

the lower than average sport participation by

Brimbank residents.

• Estimates for tennis, netball, basketball, table

tennis, badminton and volleyball are made on

population based estimates. Given the lower than

average sport participation by Brimbank residents,

these numbers are likely to be overestimated.

Based on the current trend analysis completed as

part of the updated plan, the following tables identify

the estimated current and projected future needs for

sporting facilities:

Table 2:

Team based calculations: estimate of required facilities.

Total number of

Brimbank Teams -

Base Year (2023)

195

74

102

25

21

0

Current Brimbank

Penetration

Rate (members /

population)

1.4%

1.3%

0.7%

0.2%

0.2% No growth

Number of teams

each ground or

pitch can sustain

(average)

4

4

4

4

4

Not

Available

Projected team

numbers 2033

214

90

136

26

21

0

Grounds or pitches

required by 2033

53

22

34

7

5

0

Current provision

39

28

28

11

3

0

Current need gap

9

0

0

0

2

0

Shortfall by 2033

14

0

6

0

2

0

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 27

Table 4:

Total population based calculations: estimate of required facilities.

Total population

estimate - base

year (2023)

199,780 199,780 199,780 199,780 199,780 199,780

Projected

total Brimbank

population 2033

214,499 214,499 214,499 214,499 214,499 214,499

Number of courts

(average)

1 court

per 4,000

people

3 courts

per 30,000

people

3 courts

per 30,000

people

Not

Available

Not

Available

Not

Available

Year 10 number of

courts required

54

21

21

Not

Available

Not

Available

Not

Available

Current provision

64

18*

18*

Not

Available

Not

Available

Not

Available

Current need gap

0

2*

2*

Not

Available

Not

Available

Not

Available

Shortfall by 2033

0

3*

3*

Not

Available

Not

Available

Not

Available

* Due to Council only owning and managing 7 courts across Brimbank, Basketball and Netball is heavily reliant on school and private courts

which may not always be available now or in the future. These courts are also not ideal for training or competition as they are limited to one

or two courts per site. As such, while a small current and future demand gap has been identified using population based estimates, there

is a larger demand for Council owned basketball/netball courts as outlined through this Plan to ensure future facility access is secured to

support the growth of both of these sports in Brimbank.

Table 3:

Member-based calculations: required number of facilities.

Total number of Brimbank members - base year (2023)

153

618

Current Brimbank Participation Penetration Rate

0.1%

0.3%

Number of members each ground or pitch can sustain (average)

120

275

Current provision

4

2

Current need gap

0

0

Shortfall by 2033

0

0

Number required to be developed per year

0

0

Shortfall by 2033

28 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

One of the most cost effective and practical options

in addressing the gaps in sporting facility provision

is to optimise the use of existing facilities. There

are currently sporting fields and courts within the

municipality that are not used to an optimal level. A

common reason for this is that the facilities in their

current condition or level of development do not

support optimal use, i.e. they lack or have inadequate

lighting or poor-quality pavilions and surfaces.

Measures to optimise fields and courts allocation and to

encourage improved levels of use by existing clubs are

described further in this section. Identified projects for

optimising use of sports fields and courts are identified

below and included in further detail within this plan.

Priority actions

This plan provides opportunities for Council to work

collaboratively with State and Federal Government,

sporting associations, local clubs, and local

communities on essential projects to create new

facilities and to redevelop existing sporting and

recreation infrastructure.

It is recognised that both State and Federal

Government will have changing priorities throughout

the life of this Plan. It is Council’s role to understand

these priorities and ensure that the programs and

activities delivered to the local community reflect

the current agenda of various levels of government

whilst also tailoring programs to cater for the trends

experienced by the community at a local level.

There are some poor quality sporting pavilions that

limit the use of existing reserves. Upgrading these

pavilions would help to optimise the use of the

associated sporting fields. Pavilion upgrades are

required at:

• Lloyd Reserve

• Lionheart Reserve –Tennis

• JR Parsons Reserve - Football/ Cricket

• JR Parsons Reserve - Tennis

• Green Gully Reserve - Tennis

• Keilor Park Reserve - Soccer

• Keilor Recreation – Tennis

In addition there are many sportsgrounds with very

poor standard change room facilities not suitable for

supporting girls, women, gender diverse or junior

participation. Inclusive change room upgrades/

installations are required at:

• Keilor Park Oval 2

• Ralph Reserve

• Kevin Flint Reserve

• Churchill Reserve

• Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium

• Overton Lea Reserve

• McKechnie Reserve

(NOTE: the pavilion and change room upgrade projects

should be in accordance with the facility standards and

priority order listings as outlined in Section 4.)

In addition Council has many sports grounds

without sportsground lighting or lighting required

for competition standards which restricts their use/

competition to day light hours only, meaning the

installation of sports ground lighting to the competition

standard at these grounds has the ability to

significantly increase the capacity of Brimbank sports

grounds at minimal cost compared to building new

sports grounds.

Allocation of facilities

It is important that facilities are optimally used

and allocated to users fairly and equitably. It is also

important that the amount of time the facilities are

used for does not exceed the carrying capacity.

In 2014 Council adopted the Community Facilities

and Reserves Allocation Policy and Guidelines

(Major Policy) for sports facilities, completing

recommendation 10 of the adopted Sports Facility

Development Plan 2012. The policy and guidelines

ensure a fair, equitable and consistent approach to

allocating sports facilities to the community.

The Sports Facility Hire, Licenses and Leases

Agreement Policy and Operational Guidelines were also

adopted in 2014, completing Recommendation 11 of

the Sports Facility Development Plan 2012. This policy

encourages all sports clubs who are using Council’s

sports facilities to facilitate a shared approach. The

fees and charges structure included within this policy

aims to address the costs of managing and maintaining

sporting facilities through fair and reasonable charges

for use. The fees and charges system also provides

discounts on license fees to sports clubs who are

targeting various underrepresented groups within the

community, for example females, juniors and newly

arrived individuals and groups.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 29

Recommendation 12 of the Sports Facility

Development Plan 2012 was completed with new

lease and licence agreements entered into with all

Brimbank sports clubs, apart from a minority of clubs

with current existing leases. This has ensured all

Brimbank clubs have a current usage agreement with

clear responsibilities, which encourages shared use of

Brimbank facilities.

It is recommended that all these policies are reviewed

and updated to ensure they remain current and

effective at achieving their identified aims. These

reviews should include a Gender Impact Assessment

and consideration of the Victorian State Government

Fair Access Policy and Principles.

Management of facilities

There is high demand from other non-sporting

community groups for access to community facilities.

Sports pavilions will be considered as community

facilities. While the principle purpose of a sports facility

is supporting community sports activity, there is also

the potential to accommodate community, cultural and

leisure activities that are not sport related.

Brimbank sports pavilions will be designed and

developed to maximise multi-use opportunities

through the inclusion of, at a minimum, a

community room. Local community groups and

resident sports clubs could use this room. The

Facility Development Standards outlined in this

document include the provision of community

meeting rooms in sports pavilions.

As part of this shift towards improving access to

sports facilities for further community use, Council

reviewed all sports clubs leases and licences in 2014

and introduced a new agreement with sports clubs who

utilise spaces that can be shared by other community

groups. This initiative encourages further multi-use

and shared use of Brimbank facilities. This is now

close to 10 years old, with a new review required in

alignment with updated policies.

Maintenance of facilities

It is important that sports clubs contribute to the

maintenance of the facilities they use by way of a fair

fees and charges policy. This policy recognises and

rewards groups that are making efforts to provide

multi-use access to facilities.

Capital contributions

Council is responsible for providing the core

components of a pavilion. Often, clubs will request

non-core components such as bars, function areas

and gymnasiums be provided. Council will not fund

these facilitiess.

The clubs may be permitted to contribute capital

investment for development of the facilities subject

to negotiation and agreement with Council.

Recommendation 11 of the Sports Facility Development

Plan (Updated) 2016 was completed with the

development of the Community Facilities Capital

Contribution Policy (2016) which:

• Provides a transparent and consistent policy that

clearly defines Council and community group

responsibilities towards the capital development

of Council owned or managed community

facilities; and

• Ensures efficient and effective use of Council

and community resources to maximise the

capital development and use of Council

community facilities.

The Capital Contributions Policy needs to be reviewed

and updated following the adoption of this plan.

Club development

Further work with local sporting clubs is required

to improve the management and use of existing

facilities. Club development will result in more effective

management and use of existing sports facilities and

promote closer links between clubs and their local

communities. It is therefore proposed to:

• Continue work with local sports clubs, which focus

on club development, to ensure current facilities

are managed and used at optimal levels. Particular

emphasis will be placed on encouraging local clubs

to work more closely with target groups such as

females, all genders, newly arrived residents,

various cultural groups, juniors and people living

with disabilities.

30 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

This approach focuses on developing new facilities at

existing sites to cater for current and future needs.

Priority actions

There are only a number of selected existing sporting

reserves that can spatially accommodate additional

sporting facilities. These are:

• Keilor Park Reserve

• Green Gully Reserve

• Sasella Park Reserve

• Keilor Lodge Reserve

The recommended projects include the development

of new pavilions and playing surfaces as required.

The standards to which the new facilities should be

developed are outlined in Facility Standards, Section 4

of this plan.

In addition to the measures outlined above, a Regional

Multi-Sports Facility is also required to accommodate

local community sporting needs in the future.

Priority actions

Development of a Regional Multi-Sports Facility.

This facility is necessary for the following reasons:

• As described earlier, there are numerous single field

reserves in the south of Brimbank that provide for

smaller sporting clubs, casual use and development

pathways.

• A Regional Multi-Sports Facility would give the

sports clubs and groups currently using single

field sites the opportunity to further develop by

moving to a larger, regional venue with a range of

sporting facilities. This would free up the single

fields for groups that currently do not have access

to sports facilities and allow growth in casual sport

participation.

• A Regional Multi-Sports Facility would accommodate

a range of sports at the one location and provide for

various levels of competition.

• Sports such as tennis, basketball and netball and

volleyball, which tend to operate from a site with

multiple courts, could be located at the regional

facility.

• A Regional Multi-Sports Facility would provide

Council with the ability to provide playing surfaces

that are flexible in use and capable of supporting

modified sports such as futsal.

• A Regional Multi-Sports Facility could accommodate

a ‘premier league’ standard soccer venue. This

venue could be used for competition by the clubs

in Brimbank that participate in the premier league

competition.

• The venue would remove the pressure to develop

higher standard facilities, such as grandstands and

media boxes, at the local reserves that are currently

used for premier league competition

• Reduce the neighbourhood amenity issues which

arise from the staging of premier league games at

local reserves in residential areas.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 31

A Regional Multi-Sports Facility should have the

following attributes:

• Accessible to the majority if not the whole of the

municipality

• Supporting infrastructure to cater for a large

number of participants at the one time, including

access to public transport, ample car parking,

seating, lighting, toilets, shade etc.

Sydenham Park and Bon Thomas Reserve have been

suggested as potential sites in the past. However

neither of these reserves currently have good access

to public transport and Bon Thomas is located in a

residential area. Further, given the current distribution

of sporting facilities across the City, a regional multi

sports facility in the medium term would be best

situated in the south of the municipality. Sunshine

Energy Park is the only site in the south of the

municipality that has the attributes to accommodate

a regional multi-sports facility. It is suitably sized at

54 hectares and accessible near the Western Ring

Road, Western Highway and bus and train routes.

Its past uses as a basalt quarry, then land fill and as

a gas extraction and energy production site require

further remedial works and settling prior to a staged

development of the site.

Council is in the process of developing the Sunshine

Energy Park Vision Plan which builds on the

Transforming Brimbank – Sunshine Priority Precinct

Vision 2050 adopted by Council in 2021. It aims to

leverage off the billions of dollars of development and

infrastructure that is being delivered in Brimbank and

Melbourne’s West over the coming decade that will

transform the city. The draft Vision Plan shows a range

of future uses at the site, including a strong indoor and

outdoor sporting facilities presence that will assist in

meeting the Brimbank community demand for sports

facilities outlined in this plan. The draft Vision Plan also

positions Sunshine Energy Park as an opportunity for

Council to partner with State Government Agencies

in developing a State Level sporting facility, seeing it

become a key destination in the west, supporting the

establishment of the Sunshine Priority Precinct.

In regards to Sydenham Park, the Sydenham Park

Master Plan 2020 and Sydenham Park Master Plan

Addendum 2022 recommended ‘The opportunity

for sports and recreation at Sydenham Park should

be considered, although it is likely that there will be

constraints in its location within the park due to the

nature of such a development and its associated

standard requirements to meet desired levels of play

and competition. The Master Plan should appropriately

locate, explore these opportunities and offer measures

to limit adverse impacts’. Work is currently underway in

considering the constraints at the site and feasibility

for sports facilities at this location, which if feasible

are likely to be only outdoor sports facilities which limit

it being established as a Regional Multi-Sport Facility

with both indoor and outdoor sports provision.

Due to the significant amount of funding required to

develop a Regional Multi-Sports Facility, individual

projects are not listing in the Annual Rolling Programs

in Section 4 but rather individual business cases

including funding models will need to be developed at

the appropriate point in the future.

32 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

This Plan provides opportunities for Council to work

in partnership on essential projects to create new

facilities and to redevelop existing sporting and

recreation infrastructure.

Priority actions

Sports facilities at local schools could potentially be

used as training and competition venues for sports

clubs and community groups in Brimbank.

The benefits of developing partnerships with local

schools include:

• Enabling Council to cost-effectively provide a larger

amount of training and competition venues for

sports clubs and groups,

• Building relationships between local sports clubs

and schools and providing an easy pathway for

students to join clubs,

• Strengthening the relationships between Council

and schools in Brimbank,

• Provide a cost effective way to deal with ongoing

maintenance and facility development requirements

to suit both Council and local schools.

There are a number of ways in which partnership

agreements between Council and local schools can

be achieved. These opportunities may provide access

to a number of sports surfaces for training and/or

competition on weekends. The arrangement may

include Council assisting in the provision of funding

toward the development or enhancement of sporting

facilities on Department of Education and Early

Childhood Development (DEECD) land, and assisting

with the maintenance of existing school sporting

facilities. In return for this support, the schools would

provide the community with access to their facilities

when not required for use by the schools.

Currently, Council has formal DEECD Joint Use

Agreements (JUA) with two schools as well as

community access to an additional six schools which

contributes to achieving Recommendation 3 of the

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2016). The

most recent JUA is in place at Delahey Reserve which

borders Copperfield College, in which the soccer pitch

on school land is maintained by Council and Council has

installed sportsground lighting and change rooms in

return for community access out of school hours.

There are a number of opportunities for Council to

pursue further agreements with a number of schools in

return for use of the associated sports facilities.

There are over 60 schools throughout Brimbank that

Council could approach in the future to discuss joint use

arrangements with Council for community access to

their existing and proposed sports facilities.

However, it is important to note that there are some

limitations to partnerships with local schools. Factors

inhibiting access to school facilities are as follows:

• Some of the facilities may not be suitable for

competition or even training, without investment

in additional infrastructure (e.g. sportsground

lighting).

• Some sports, such as netball and tennis, can require

a cluster of courts to successfully run a competition.

Most school sites may have one or two courts; these

can be suitable for training purposes but do not

serve as sites that can hold anything other than

training or small competitions.

• Some schools have concerns with security when

allowing facilities to be used by the broader

community.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 33

There is also an opportunity to further develop

partnerships with local schools that have developed

spaces as part of the $16.2 billion Building the

Education Revolution (BER) Program (2010). This

program aimed at modernising schools through the

delivery of necessary infrastructure. This included the

development of sports halls and spaces. An important

part of the Primary Schools for the 21st Century

(P21) element is the requirement for schools to make

their facility available to the community at low or no

cost. This is a requirement of the Commonwealth

Government under the guidelines.

There are a number of schools in Brimbank that have

received funding to construct sports halls and indoor

courts through this program. Five full size courts

have been built; these facilities would be suitable for

competition.

In addition, a number of three quarter size courts

and sports halls have been constructed. They are

suitable for netball and basketball training, volleyball,

badminton, table tennis and futsal practice and, in

some cases junior competition.

Local businesses and other organisations may be

interested in contributing to the provision of sporting

facilities or allowing community access to their

facilities. Examples of these organisations include

Universities and Health providers.

Partnership arrangements will be sought with

neighbouring Councils to develop sports facilities that

address the sporting needs of Brimbank residents;

particularly when the facilities are near the border of

adjoining municipalities.

3. Addressing

current

sporting

trends and

needs

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 35

Council is committed to creating sports facilities and

developing existing sites to address the community’s

sport and recreation needs.

Brimbank’s sports clubs

Brimbank has over 70 clubs and associations in the

following sports

Football

9 plus 13 Auskick Centres

Cricket

11

Bowls

5 (3 are on private land)

Tennis

11

Baseball

1

Softball

2 (associations)

Athletics

4

Soccer

15 (plus 3 clubs on

private land)

Netball

2 (associations)

Basketball

2 (associations)

Badminton

0

Volleyball

0

Table Tennis

3 (associations)

Rugby Union

1

Rugby League

1

Dog Obedience

1

Pigeon Club

1

Model Aircraft

1

Model Off Road

Car Club

2

Bocce

2

Fly Casting

1

Kabaddi

1

A review of affiliated sports club membership numbers,

assessment of current sporting provision, facility

condition and compliance audits and an analysis of

future needs and demands was undertaken for the

sports listed above. Further information was obtained

in consultation with state sporting associations and

Council staff with an intimate knowledge of local sports

trends based on their dealings with local sports clubs

on a daily basis.

Casual/Social sport

Research undertaken by the sports sector indicates

an increase in casual or social sport, and the need for

sporting organisations to embrace and respond to this

shift to remain viable.

In 2013, The Australian Sports Commission released a

research paper on future sports trends, including the

impact of megatrends – patterns of social, economic

or environmental changes that influence sports

participation (Future of Australian Sport: Megatrends

shaping the sports sector over the coming decades,

Australian Sports Commission, 2013). The research

predicted that individualised sport and recreation

activities will continue to rise and participation rates for

many organized sports will remain constant or in some

cases decline.

The notion of more people choosing individualised

activities over structured sport was reinforced in the

latest participation data for the sports sector released

by the Australian Sports Commission (AusPlay).

The data showed individual activities which can be

undertaken at a time chosen by the participant such as

walking, gym, athletics, swimming and cycling were the

most popular activities for adults.

Women and girls participation growth

Brimbank has been proactive in supporting female

participation growth by undertaking universal design

audits of sporting facilities to identify infrastructure

needs that will ensure welcoming and inclusive

facilities are being planned and provided. The findings

of these audits have informed the development of the

Inclusive Facility Upgrades rolling program in this Plan.

Council has used this information, alongside Sport and

Recreation Victoria’s Female Friendly Infrastructure

Guide, to successful apply for change room upgrades

from the Victorian Government’s Female Friendly

Facilities fund. Sport and Recreation Victoria have

previously established a dedicated Office for Women

in Sport which will work to deliver an equal playing

field for women and girls at every level of our sport

and recreation organisations and clubs. The Office has

been created to implement the nine recommendations

from the Inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and

Active Recreation and deliver further Change Our

Game initiatives to boost participation and create more

leadership opportunities in sport for women.

36 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

More recently, Victoria’s Gender Equality Act 2020

requires councils to consider and promote gender

equality, including undertaking gender impact

assessments on policies, programs and services that

have a direct and significant impact on the public. As

such a Gender Impact Assessment process has been

included in the development of the 2023 Plan that

aims to create better and fairer outcomes for people

of all genders and ensure all people have access to

opportunities and resources. In addition it considers the

Victorian State Governments Fair Access Policy and Fair

Access Principles:

1. Community sports infrastructure and environments

are genuinely welcoming, safe and inclusive.

2. Women and girls can fully participate in all aspects

of community sport and active recreation, including

as a player, coach, administrator, official, volunteer

and spectator.

3. Women and girls will have equal access to and use of

community sport infrastructure.

4. Women and girls should be equitably represented in

leadership and governance roles.

5. Encourage and support all user groups who

access and use community sport infrastructure to

understand, adopt and implement gender equitable

access and use practices.

6. Prioritise access, use and support to all user

groups who demonstrate an ongoing commitment

to gender equitable access and use of allocated

community sport infrastructure.

This growth is expected to continue with the

establishment of elite level national competitions and

more female sport being televised.

Niche sports

In addition to the growth in women and girls

participation and individual activities, is the presence

of niche sports. Niche sports include a range of lesser

known activities such as: bocce, pigeon racing, fly

casting, Kabaddi and off/on road remote control car

racing. Niche sports typically appeal to a smaller group

of people that are less interested in more traditional

structured sports such as cricket, soccer and basketball.

However, as participation and membership figures

show, there is significant interest in these niche

sports in Brimbank (e.g. 345 bocce players across two

sites). The older sports community and sections of the

CALD community in Brimbank are being serviced by

niche sports, as the profile of pigeon racing and bocce

participants is generally male and over the age of 40.

Although these sports vary a lot from structured

sports, most niche sports can share facilities and

be accommodated in multipurpose venues or in a

community hub setting. To embrace the potential

growth of niche sports, Council should focus on

universally designed facilities that provide flexible

programming space in order to deliver inclusive

sporting environments and enhance participation

opportunities for the Brimbank community.

Athletics

There are four athletics clubs in Brimbank (two senior

athletics and two little athletics) with a combined

membership of 618. There are two formal athletics

tracks and a football/ cricket oval used for athletics.

Participation is expected to remain stable with no

significant change anticipated in future years. The

two formal tracks in are sufficient to meet current

and future demand, with future replacement of

the synthetic athletics track surface at Keilor Park a

consideration for Council.

• Monitor the synthetic surface at Keilor Park

Synthetic Athletics track and plan for replacement at

the required point in time.

Australian Rules Football

There are 9 football clubs and 13 Auskick Centres

in Brimbank servicing an estimated 2,600 football

participants. Junior participants make up approximately

30% of total participants and female participants 12%.

Clubs continue to experience issues with ageing

infrastructure and facility capacity. Improved playing

surfaces, all gender change rooms and lighting

upgrades remain a high priority for clubs. AFL Victoria

is focussed on ensuring football remains strong post

COVID and capturing the next generation of footballers.

They aim to achieve this by targeting more women and

girls, attracting more Auskick participants and providing

a greater focus on Active Schools. Football will support

and co-fund projects that are fit for purpose, inclusive

and support the sustainability of the game.

• Providing appropriate facilities for women, girls

and gender diverse players, umpires, officials

and spectators.

• Co-investment in lighting and playing surface

upgrades will support participation growth and club

sustainability.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 37

Badminton

Badminton Victoria reported more than 400

registered badminton players in Brimbank and noted

the number of social players wanting access to courts

was significant.

The Western Suburbs Badminton Association is the

closest major association to Brimbank. The association

operates from the Bayfit Leisure Centre in Altona

North where 30% (146) of its members are Brimbank

residents. The Western Badminton Centre at Ravenhall

(Melton Council) also contributes to meeting the

regional needs of the sport. The centre offers 12

indoor badminton courts for community use.

Locally, the Malayalee Sports and Cultural Association

use the Cairnlea Park Primary School for badminton

and have approximately 50 players. There are also two

community badminton groups located in St Albans and

West Sunshine that play Badminton.

Badminton Victoria identified strong demand for

additional badminton courts in Braybrook, Sunshine

West, Sunshine and Laverton North.

• Consider the future provision of additional

badminton facilities when planning new or

redeveloping existing indoor recreation facilities.

Continue with planning for an Indoor Stadium at

Energy Park in the south of Brimbank to address

current and future demand.

• Investigate partnerships with schools as a way to

address demand for badminton through access to

existing and new facilities.

Baseball

The Sunshine Baseball Club has 75 members and are

the only baseball club in Brimbank. The club is based at

Barclay Reserve and use two diamonds. Participation is

expected to remain stable with no significant change

anticipated in future years. The two diamonds are

capable of catering for current and future demand.

• Providing appropriate facilities for all gender players,

umpires, officials and spectators, with an emphasis

on creating welcoming environments.

Basketball

The Keilor Basketball Association (KBA) is one of the

largest associations in the western region and operates

from Council’s Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium (KBNS).

KBA has an approximate membership base of 6,500

players which comprises 460 junior teams, 200 senior

teams and 45 representative teams. It is estimated

that 1 in 26 Brimbank residents play basketball and KBA

has a waiting list of prospective players.

There has been significant growth since the

redevelopment of KBNS to six courts. KBA use 21

courts across 14 venues in Brimbank and surrounding

municipalities to service the needs of local basketball

players. The six courts at the KBNS are at capacity

during peak times.

There is a gap in the current provision of indoor

courts in the southern part of the municipality, where

much of the future population growth is predicted.

Sunshine and Sunshine North are the hot spots for

growth over the next ten years and will need access to

additional indoor courts to ensure future residents are

adequately catered for.

Basketball Victoria also confirmed a gap in indoor

court provision in Brimbank and the need for more

courts to service the growth of several local basketball

associations. BV is working with the KBA on a growth

strategy that focuses on additional courts at KBNS

and access to proposed new courts at Quinn Grove

Reserve (East Keilor Leisure Centre) located in the City

of Moonee Valley.

• Continue with planning for an Indoor Stadium at

Energy Park in the south of Brimbank to address

current and future demand.

• In the medium term, investigate the feasibility of

additional courts at KBNS and new courts in the

southern district to cater for future growth and

lessen the reliance on school and private courts

which may not always be available in the future.

38 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Bowls

There are five bowls clubs in Brimbank, three of which

are privately owned. The two clubs operating on

Council land have access to four bowling greens. Clubs

in Brimbank have a combined membership total of

approximately 400.

Bowls Victoria reported an increase in pay to play social

participation such as barefoot bowls and corporate

activities that many clubs run. It is noted that clubs in

other parts of Melbourne have significantly increased

the usage of greens through casual use.

The Bowls Victoria Facilities Plan identified a number

of strategic priorities for the sport over the next 10

years. These include the development of a regional

level facility in the North West and a state centre of

excellence potentially in the metro west region, with

the Cities of Melton and Wyndham identified.

The four bowls greens will address current and future

demand of the Brimbank clubs.

• Continue to support existing Brimbank clubs and

partner with Bowls Victoria and surrounding

municipalities on a regional wide strategy to

guide future investment and support the ongoing

sustainability of facilities.

Cricket

Brimbank has 11 cricket clubs with a combined

membership of more than 1,500. The Western

Regional Junior Cricket Association (WRJCA) that

includes many Brimbank based clubs is the largest

junior cricket association in Victoria, accommodating

more than 300 teams and 40 different competitions.

Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia identifies junior

participation as the greatest area of growth and

sustainability for the sport, and are placing greater

emphasis and support around their modified junior

match formats and cricket programs and activities

targeting 5 to 12 year olds.

Cricket Victoria identified a significant change in how

the game is played, with associations responding

to demand for mid-week matches and Sunday

morning competitions. Female participation in cricket,

especially by primary school age girls, is also growing in

Melbourne’s West, with new junior (U11, U13, U16 girls)

and expanding senior women’s competitions (including

T20 socials) established in recent years. There has

also been an increase in winter competitions which is

creating challenges with access to fields and playable

pitches. Brimbank is experiencing this growth with

many groups wanting to play cricket on sports grounds

across the municipality in competitions throughout the

winter season.

Cricket Victoria also reported a noticeable increase

in participation triggered by an increase in residents

from South East Asian communities. The 2021 Census

identified more than 105,000 people who were living

in Brimbank were born overseas. Almost 12,000

residents were born in South East Asian communities

including India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka where cricket is

considered their national game.

• A continued focus on creating all gender facilities

that encourages women and girls participation. This

includes provision of facilities for all gender players,

umpires, officials and spectators, with an emphasis

on creating welcoming environments.

• Further consideration should be given to

increasing the number of synthetic cricket wickets

in Brimbank to cater for an increase in winter

cricket and to support increase participation in

junior formats of the game.

• Strategic and staged upgrading of practice net

facilities and synthetic cricket wickets to ensure

safe and functional playing environments are

provided – link priorities to Cricket Australia’s annual

Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund (ACIF) for

shared investment opportunities.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 39

Netball

St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association

(SACSNA) is the main local netball provider in Brimbank.

The association has approximately 235 teams with

more than half their players living in Brimbank. SACSNA

use three courts at the Keilor Basketball Netball

Stadium for competition and training and service a

large number of netball participants that live in Keilor,

Kealba, Keilor Downs, St Albans and Sunshine.

Of the 1,896 netball players in Brimbank, approximately

1,234 (65%) are registered with SACSNA. Other

popular associations for Brimbank players include

Parkville and Altona. SACSNA also occupy courts at

Copperfield Secondary College in Brimbank and the

Caroline Springs Leisure Centre in the City of Melton

Netball Victoria identified that Brimbank has the

greatest need for additional indoor netball courts

compared to other Western Metropolitan LGAs.

Brimbank has a court per population rate of 1: 17,692

which compares unfavourably to the Western region

with a court per population ratio 1: 8,504. This

indicates a lack of facilities to service current needs

and future growth, which should be addressed

through more indoor courts that provide greater

scheduling capacity, are not weather dependent and

can be used for longer periods.

Netball Victoria are updating their State-wide Facilities

Strategy and Facility Development Guidelines and have

committed to collecting facility data at all venues to

inform future priorities.

AFL Victoria and local football clubs are planning to add

Netball clubs to Brimbank Football clubs, similar to the

model operating in country Victoria, which will lead to

football clubs requesting outdoor Netball courts at their

home venues which will increase opportunities to play

Netball across Brimbank.

• Continue with planning for an Indoor Stadium at

Energy Park in the south of Brimbank to address

current and future demand.

• In the medium term, investigate the feasibility of

additional courts at KBNS and new courts in the

southern district to cater for future growth and

lessen the reliance on school and private courts

which may not always be available in the future.

• Investigate opportunities to provide outdoor netball

courts at Brimbank sporting reserves where AFL is

played to increase participation.

Niche Sports

The needs of niche sports in Brimbank, such as Bocce,

Fly Casting, Model Aircraft, Kabaddi, Off and On Road

Remote Control Car Clubs and Pigeon Racing will

continue to be monitored by Council officers.

As the trend towards informal and less structured

activities continues, it is likely that these sports and

emerging recreational activities such as pickleball may

require funding to ensure facilities are meeting the

needs of users.

Other Sports

Other sports not currently represented in Brimbank

such as hockey, lacrosse, squash, croquet, and roller

derby will also be monitored. Any increase in the

popularity of these sports will be managed on a case

by-case basis with Council officers to work with peak

bodies to address any future participation and facility

demand.

Rugby Union

Brimbank has one rugby union club (Brimbank Bucks)

which established in 2013. The club field six teams at

Bon Thomas Reserve and have a stable membership of

180. The club has six female teams and a strong junior

membership base of 135. Participation should continue

to grow as the club attracts players directly from the

strong Pacific Islander communities in Brimbank.

Touch rugby is played over the summer months

and is popular as it caters for unstructured and

informal participation.

• Investigate opportunities to provide additional

facilities at Bon Thomas Reserve to cater the future

growth and needs of Rugby Union.

• Providing appropriate facilities for all gender players,

umpires, officials and spectators, with an emphasis

on creating welcoming environments.

40 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Rugby League

Sunshine Cowboys Rugby League Club use Arthur

Beachley Reserve and have a membership base of

approximately 150. More than 60% of members are

junior players.

NRL Victoria identified Brimbank as a highly

desirable area for the establishment of a new rugby

league club due to the high nature of culturally

and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups in the

municipality. Victoria University Secondary College

has established a highly successful rugby academy

which has strong partnerships with Melbourne

Rebels and Melbourne Storm.

• Investigate opportunities to provide additional

facilities at Bon Thomas Reserve to cater the future

growth and needs of Rugby League.

• Providing appropriate facilities for all gender players,

umpires, officials and spectators, with an emphasis

on creating welcoming environments.

Soccer

Brimbank has 18 soccer clubs (15 on Council land and 3

private land) catering for close to 4,000 players. Soccer

continues to be a highly participated sport in Brimbank

with many facilities unable to cater for additional

participants. Existing clubs are experiencing a range of

facility challenges including a shortage of pitches, poor

lighting and lack of all gender change rooms.

As the popularity of soccer and the population of

Brimbank continues to grow, there will be a need

to upgrade existing facilities and plan for the

development of new facilities in key growth areas.

There is particularly strong demand for soccer facilities

from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups

in the southern districts of Brimbank.

With major events such as the FIFA 2023 Women’s

World Cup and the 2026 Commonwealth Games

approaching, soccer will work with its local government

partners to capitalise on participation, marketing and

infrastructure opportunities that will be a direct result

or as part of the legacy of these events. Growth and

success of the A-League (with a new club and new

state of the art venue in the western region) provides

a pathway which will continue to boost participation at

grass roots level in Brimbank.

Part of the National Program for soccer in 2023 is

heavily focused on providing welcoming and inclusive

environments for women and girls. The priority is to

support clubs to better cater for women and girls to

play soccer and ensure clubs are well positioned for the

release of the Victorian Governments Fair Access Policy.

Football Victoria believe a soccer hub with 6 to 8

pitches in the Brimbank will assist with the demand for

additional pitches.

Futsal is the popular 5 a side modified version of

soccer that is mostly played indoors. There are 30,000

registered futsal players across the state. There are no

dedicated facilities in Brimbank. The closest affiliated

centre is at Caroline Springs which hosts the State Futsal

Championship and has 800 registered players. A court

to player ratio of 1:250 is considered best practice when

assessing the capacity and future need for futsal courts.

• Increase the capacity of existing facilities through

field lighting, pitch upgrades and providing

appropriate facilities for all gender players, umpires,

officials and spectators.

• Work with FV on legacy projects generated from

the 2023 Women’s World Cup, including a feasibility

study into the potential future development of a

soccer hub within the municipality through funding

support from FV and the State Government.

• Continue with planning for an Indoor Stadium at

Energy Park in the south of Brimbank that could

potentially address any future demand for futsal.

• Plan for the provision of synthetic sports fields in

the southern part of the municipality to meet the

growth demand for soccer’

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 41

Softball

There are two softball associations and nine softball

diamonds in Brimbank. The Sunshine Softball

Association have 200 members and use More Park,

whilst the Keilor Park and District Softball Association

have 104 participants and use Keilor Park.

An $8.4m redevelopment of More Park in 2022 has

delivered state of the art softball facilities. The project

included development of an accessible sports pavilion

complete with four new female friendly change room

facilities, along with umpire, office, kitchen, first aid,

social areas and storerooms. A new softball batting

cage, multipurpose training area, path network and

lighting were also delivered.

The nine diamonds across both facilities as well as the

newly developed facilities at More Park will adequately

cater for the current and future demand of softball in

Brimbank.

• Support both softball associations in increasing

participation and programs with new facility

developments at More Park which support the

growth of the sport in Brimbank

Table Tennis

There are three table tennis associations in Brimbank.

The Sunshine District Table Tennis Association (SDTTA)

is based at the West Sunshine Community Centre and

the Vietnamese Chinese Table Tennis Club (VCTTC)

use St Albans Primary School in St Albans. The Health

Wellness and Table Tennis Club are based at Loops,

a new privately-run table tennis centre in Somerville

Road West Sunshine. Community groups operate

from schools including Holy Eucharist and Stevensville

Primary School’s (both St Albans), St Albans Primary

School and Deer Park North Primary School.

In 2018 Table Tennis Victoria reported 321 table

tennis members in Brimbank. These numbers do not

include the significant amount of social players who

are unregistered.

Table Tennis Victoria is aiming to expand their

established programs and work with schools to further

develop pathways for students and local participants.

The sport is focusing on large migrant groups from

South East Asia for whom table tennis is often

embedded as one of their primary sports of choice.

A barrier identified by Table Tennis Victoria for table

tennis in Brimbank is the availability of affordable

and accessible community facilities for migrant

groups who often feel intimidated by the traditional

club environment. Table Tennis Victoria reported

a significant demand for the game by older adults

(55+), particularly in the St Albans area and identified

Brooklyn as the preferred location for the future

provision of a purpose built table tennis facility.

• Consider the future provision of additional

table tennis facilities when planning new or

redeveloping existing indoor recreation facilities.

Continue with planning for an Indoor Stadium at

Energy Park in the south of Brimbank to address

current and future demand.

• Partner with schools as a way to address demand

for table tennis through access to existing and

new facilities.

42 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Tennis

Brimbank has 11 tennis clubs with a total membership

base of approximately 2,180. The demand for casual

tennis court use is high and continues to be supported

through Council’s In2tennis program.

Tennis Victoria recently provided a venue sustainability

report of tennis in Brimbank. The report identified

the need to educate clubs on child safety standards,

delivering club strategic plans to address current

and future need, improving venue access to increase

participation and enhancing the on-line presence and

visibility of clubs. Tennis Victoria will also work with

Council to review tennis club lease agreements with a

focus on maintenance responsibilities.

There are 62 courts across 11 tennis venues in

Brimbank. No additional courts will be required over

the life of this plan, however an estimated $1m of

asset renewal has been identified by Tennis Victoria in

the next 3 years. Six of the 11 venues have the book

a court public access gate system, with a further 3

venues planned in the near future.

• Support Tennis Victoria in building the capacity of

existing tennis venues with a focus on sustainable

facility development initiatives such as LED lighting

and synthetic or hard court surfaces.

• The ‘Book a Court’ online booking system and

gate/light access should continue to be installed

to increase casual use of tennis facilities

throughout Brimbank.

• Council officers to provide support to Brimbank

tennis clubs to create strategic and/or business

plans, particularly considering management

models, appropriate programming/offerings,

asset renewals, and Council and Tennis Victoria’s

strategic plans

Volleyball

There are 109 registered volleyball players in

Brimbank and one affiliated club who use the indoor

stadium at Cairnlea Primary School. There is no formal

volleyball competition in Brimbank, however there is

a league based nearby at Gilson College in Taylors Hill

(City of Melton). In addition, volleyball training and/

or competition takes place at Altona, Altona North,

Braybrook, Moonee Ponds and Melton.

The introduction of courts lined for Volleyball at KBNS

supports the current and future demand for volleyball

in Brimbank.

Volleyball Victoria identified only moderate demand

for the sport in Brimbank, although believes the

municipality is strategically placed in terms of future

growth. Deer Park, St Albans or Taylors Lakes were

identified by Volleyball Victoria as the preferred

location to serve the longer needs of volleyball in

the future.

• Consider the future provision of additional

volleyball facilities when planning new or

redeveloping existing indoor recreation facilities.

Continue with planning for an Indoor Stadium at

Energy Park in the south of Brimbank to address

current and future demand.

• Partner with schools as a way to address any future

demand for volleyball through access to existing and

new facilities.

• Council officers to meet with Volleyball Victoria to

discuss the current state of the sport in Brimbank

and identify ways to work together to grow the

sport considering Brimbank’s demographics.

4. Facility

development

44 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

As discussed throughout this Plan, Council will work

to address the identified gaps in the provision of

sporting facilities across the City in a range of ways.

These include;

• Optimising the use of existing facilities,

• Developing additional facilities at existing sporting

reserves in addition to developing new sports

facilities, and,

• Investigating opportunities to enter into partnership

agreements with local schools, local organisations

and neighbouring municipalities.

As part of the decision making process for developing

sport and recreation facilities, a facility development

matrix is used to assess new or planned sports

facility development projects. This enables Council to

effectively prioritise projects, ensuring that all sport

and recreation facilities are assessed consistently, and

are determined in a fair and equitable manner.

The matrix will be used to inform Council on future

funding submissions and annual budget planning.

The Facility Development Matrix on the following page

uses findings from the recent provision, condition

and compliance audits and assesses each proposed

project against set criteria with associated scores

as set out below. The total score is listed to identify

those projects that are of high priority. Each project is

subject to Council’s budgetary process and will involve

the development of a detailed business case as part of

Council’s Project Management Framework.

The matrix has been of great value to date with

implementing the Sports Facility Development Plan,

ensuring consistency and fairness in the assessment of

proposed projects.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 45

Facility development matrix

score system

The matrix as set out below has been developed in

accordance with the key principles which will guide the

future provision of sports facilities in Brimbank as stated in

Section 1 of this plan.

By using this matrix, Council can identify projects to

recommend for funding through Council’s Capital Works

budget. This process will also allow Council to establish the

projects that are considered as potential grant submissions

to Federal and State Government funding programs.

A facility development implementation table has been

developed (see below) based on assessment of all pavilion

projects using the Facility Development Matrix and current

sporting needs throughout the community.

(+ improved local amenity)

Based on:

Number of active sports

participants who will

directly benefit.

Facility Condition report

Comparison with Sports Facility Development Plan Minimum Standards

Number of teams per year

(including both summer

and winter season) on each

playing surface (either

sports ground/ pitch or

court.

Sports ground sporting team totals

8+ teams per year = 35 6+ teams per year = 25 4+ teams per year = 15

24+ teams per year = 35 18+ teams per year = 25

12+ teams per year = 15

Club / School using sports ground currently or projected to for training use

1 additional club / school = 5

More than one additional club / school = 10

Sport Development -

including new club/teams

for emerging sports and

specific target groups.

Completed Club Development business plan

The group/club has worked alongside Council’s Leisure and Community

Facilities Department to ensure local community needs are met.

The group /club have met the relative State Sporting Association

sports development requirements in relation to promotion and future

participation opportunities.

The proposed project provides access to sporting facilities for one or more

of Council’s target groups for further sports participation (Groups including:

Juniors, People with a disability, Female participation and participation

opportunities for newly arrived groups and Culturally and Linguistically

Diverse communities).

Savings in maintenance

costs / External funding

(including capital

contribution from club)

Note: An active sports participant is defined as a person normally participating in training and/or sporting

competition with a sporting club each week of the sport season. Individual participants will change

during the course of a season but the numbers of participants will remain roughly the same

46 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Pavilon development

1. Lloyd Reserve*

2. Lionheart Reserve – Tennis*

3. J.R. Parsons Reserve – Football/Cricket

#

4. J.R. Parsons Reserve – Tennis

#

5. Green Gully Reserve – Tennis

6. Keilor Park Reserve – Soccer

7. Keilor Recreation Reserve – Tennis

8. Keilor Park Recreation Reserve – Softball/Soccer

9. Barclay Reserve – Baseball

10. Delahey Reserve – Tennis

11. Overton Lea – Tennis

12. Ainsworth Reserve – Pavilion

13. Selwyn Reserve – Cricket/Soccer

14. McKechnie Reserve

15. Diamond Reserve

16. Keilor Park Recreation Reserve – Tennis

17. Sasella Reserve – Tennis

18. Ralph Reserve – Soccer

19. Churchill Reserve – Soccer

20. Keilor Park Recreation Reserve – Athletics

21. Kevin Flint Reserve – Soccer

22. Sasella Park Reserve – Athletics

23. Keilor Recreation Reserve – Football/Cricket

24. Keilor Park Recreation Reserve – Football/Cricket

25. Lionheart Reserve – Football/Cricket

26. Dempster Reserve – Football/Cricket

* Projects designed and construction tender completed

at time of Plan adoption

# Projects under design at time of Plan adoption

Note: Timing of projects is indicative only and subject

to business case development, detailed planning

and annual budget processes.

Any future or emerging sports facility projects will

be prioritised using the Facility Development Matrix,

which has been developed to guide the allocation

of funds to future capital works projects for sports

facilities. This will allow Council to ensure all sports

facilities are assessed consistently and prioritised

fairly and equitably.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 47

As part of this Plan, Council is committed to specific

sport and recreation Capital Works Program categories

each year known as rolling programs. These rolling

programs will address other areas of sports facility

development linked to upgrading pavilions, grounds

and facilities.

The key rolling programs include;

Inclusive Facility Upgrades

First priority is to upgrade change rooms and

associated amenities to encourage inclusive

participation. Second priority projects focus on inclusive

facility upgrades in other areas of sports infrastructure.

Kitchen Upgrade

Upgrade existing kitchens in Council pavilions.

Sports Surface Reconstruction

Upgrade/refurbish sports grounds and courts to

community level playing standard.

New Sportsgrounds

Develop new sports ground to community level

playing standard including all necessary supporting

infrastructure to Council minimum standards.

Sportsground Lighting

Install new or upgrade existing sports lights to Councils

minimum standard for the relevant sport on site.

Sports Reserves Car Parks

Upgrade existing or build new car parking located at

sports facilities.

Sportsground Irrigation Upgrades/

Installation

Install new or upgrade existing irrigation systems at

sports grounds across Brimbank.

Sports Netting

Install or upgrade sports netting (Cricket, Baseball,

Softball, Athletics etc) at reserves across Brimbank.

Warm Season Grass Conversion

Convert sports grounds from cool season grass to warm

season grass.

Partnerships

Invest in sports facilities located at school or other

non-Council sites in order to develop partnership

agreements and access to the sports facility for use of

the wider Brimbank community. A range of investment

opportunities may be available, including upgrading

or refurbishment of existing sports surfaces, and

maintenance or installation of supporting sports

infrastructure such as lighting, players benches, shade

or toilet facilities.

Tennis Court Resurfacing

Upgrade of existing tennis courts surface to address

safety and condition matters.

Sporting Infrastructure

A range of supporting sports infrastructure at sports

sites across Brimbank requires ongoing maintenance

and upgrades. The programs required include;

• Players Benches Replacement

• Sports Shade and Cover

• Goal Post Replacement

• Storage Refurbishment

• Sports Reserve Fencing Upgrades

48 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Keilor Park Reserve Oval 2

Ralph Reserve

Kevin Flint Reserve

Churchill Reserve

Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium Changerooms

Overton Lea Reserve

McKechnie Reserve - Old Changerooms

Selwyn Reserve Tennis

Keilor Park Reserve Tennis

Sassella Reserve Tennis

Dempster Reserve Football/Cricket

Ainsworth Reserve

Sassella Reserve Athletics

Castley Reserve

Green Gully Reserve Soccer/Cricket

Keilor Rec Reserve Football/Cricket

Carrington Reserve Bocce

Green Gully Reserve Dog Club

Keilor Park Reserve Off Road Cars

Keilor Park Reserve Athletics

Sydenham Reseve Model Aircraft

Kings Park Bowls

Carrington Reserve Pigeons

Keilor Lodge

Selwyn Park Tennis 1-6

Green Gully Reserve Tennis 7 & 8

Keilor Park Reserve Softball 1

Keilor Park Reserve Synthetics

Keilor Park Reserve Athletics

Keilor Park Reserve Pitch 1

Delahey Reserve Oval

Delahey Reserve Tennis 5 & 6

Green Gully Reserve Oval

Keilor Rec Reserve Bowls 1

John McLeod Oval 1

Parsons Reserve Tennis 1 & 2

J.R. Parsons Reserve Oval 2

Tallintyre Reserve

Keilor Park Reserve Softball 4

Keilor Park Reserve Oval 2

Kevin Flint Reserve Oval

Sassella Park Tennis 5 & 6

Keilor Park Reserve Tennis 3 & 4

Kings Park Bowls 1

Bon Thomas Reserve Oval

Kevin Flint Reserve Pitch 1

Kevin Flint Reserve Pitch 2

Keilor Park Reserve Pitch 3

Lionheart Reserve Oval 2

Kings Park Bowls

Keilor Rec Reserve Football/Cricket

Selwyn Park Soccer/Cricket

Green Gully Reserve Dog Club

Overton Lea Reserve Tennis

Dempster Park Football/Cricket

Keilor Park Reserve Tennis

Sassella Reserve Tennis

Selwyn Park Tennis

John McLeod Reserve

Lionheart Reserve Football/Cricket

Larissa Reserve

Arthur Beachley Reserve

Larissa Reserve

Ardeer Reserve

McKechnie Reserve

Ralph Reserve

Dempster Park Tennis

Kings Park Bowls

Carrington Reserve Bocce

Carrington Reserve Pigeon

Carrington Reserve Off Road Car Track

Rolling Program Priority Listings

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 49

Selwyn Park Tennis 1-6

Dempster Park Tennis 3 & 4

Green Gully Reserve Tennis 5 & 6

Lionheart Reserve Tennis 1-6

Lionheart Reserve Oval 1

Keilor Rec Reserve Oval

Balmoral Park Oval 1

Keilor Park Reserve Athletics

Barclay Reserve Baseball 1

Robert Bruce Reserve Oval

Selwyn Park Oval

Green Gully Reserve Oval

Sassella Park Athletics

J.R. Parsons Reserve Tennis 5 & 6

Delahey Reserve Tennis 5 & 6

Balmoral Park Oval 2

Castley Reserve

Keilor Park Reserve Oval 1

Lionheart Reserve Tennis 7-9

John McLeod Reserve Oval 1

Overton Lea Reserve Tennis 1-4

Churchill Reserve Pitch 2

Overton Lea Reserve Tennis 5-6

Delahey Reserve Oval

Delahey Reserve Soccer Pitch

Delahey Reserve Tennis 1-2

Keilor Park Reserve Soccer 3

Bon Thomas Reserve Oval

Dempster Park Oval

Arthur Beachley Reserve

Bon Thomas Reserve Pitch 1 & 2

Kevin Flint Reserve Oval

Lloyd Reserve

McKechnie Reserve 1 & 2

J.R Parsons Reserve Oval 1

Keilor Lodge Reserve Pitch 2

Carrington Reserve Off Road Cars

John McLeod Reserve Oval 2

John McLeod Oval 2

Keilor Park Softball Diamond 1

Green Gully Reserve Oval 2

Keilor Park Reserve Soccer

New Synthetic in the south

Outdoor Netball Courts

Sasella Park Pitch 1

Keilor Lodge Pitch 4

Churchill Reserve Pitch 1

Kevin Flint Reserve Pitch 2

J.R. Parsons Reserve Oval 1

McKechnie Reserve Pitch 2

Selwyn Park

Lloyd Reserve

Keilor Park Reserve Softball 2

Arthur Beachley Reserve

Green Gully Reserve Oval

Lionheart Reserve Oval 2

Keilor Lodge Soccer

Churchill Reserve Pitch 1

Delahey Reserve Oval

Kevin Flint Reserve Pitch 1

Kevin Flint Reserve Pitch 2

Kevin Flint Reserve Oval

Churchill Reserve Pitch 2

Green Gully Reserve Pitch 2

McKechnie Reserve Pitch 2

Selwyn Park Oval

Lionheart Reserve Oval 2

Arthur Beachley Reserve

Lloyd Reserve

Green Gully Reserve Oval

J.R. Parsons Reserve Oval 1

J.R. Parsons Reserve Oval 2

Rolling Program Priority Listings (continued)

50 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Balmoral Park Oval 1

Keilor Lodge Reserve Pitch 1

Larrisa Reserve

Churchill Reserve Pitch 2

Churchill Reserve Pitch 3

Barclay Reserve Diamond 1

Barclay Reserve Diamond 2

Keilor Park Reserve Softball 3

Keilor Park Reserve Softball 4

Castley Reserve

Keilor Park Reserve Synthetics 1

Keilor Park Reserve Synthetics 2

Keilor Park Reserve Pitch 1

Keilor Park Reserve Pitch 2

Keilor Park Reserve Pitch 3

Lloyd Reserve

Delahey Reserve Soccer

Green Gully Reserve Pitch 2

Keilor Lodge Reserve Pitch 2

McKechnie Reserve Pitch 1

McKechnie Reserve Pitch 2

Balmoral Park Oval 2

Kevin Flint Reserve Oval

Lionheart Reserve Oval 2

Selwyn Park

Barclay Reserve Baseball

Selwyn Park Cricket

Keilor Park Reserve Cricket

Green Gully Reserve Cricket

Athletic Cages- Keilor Park Reserve & Sassella Park

Keilor Rec Reserve Cricket

Keilor Park Reserve Softball

John McLeod Reserve Cricket

Ainsworth Reserve Cricket

Lionheart Reserve Cricket

J.R. Parsons Reserve Cricket

Dempster Park Cricket

Balmoral Park Cricket

Ardeer Reserve

Dempster Park

Green Gully Reserve Bocce

Talintyre Reserve

Carrington Reserve Off Road Cars

Keilor Lodge Reserve Pitch 1

Balmoral Park

Keilor Park Reserve Football

Ainsworth Reserve

McKechnie Reserve

Churchill Reserve Pitch 1

Green Gully Reserve Pitch 2

Kevin Flint Reserve Pitch 1

Lloyd Reserve Soccer

Selwyn Park Soccer

Balmoral Park Pitch 2

Ainsworth Reserve

Dempster Park

Keilor Park Reserve Oval 1

* Future projects to be identified based on annual

condition inspection when installing/ removing goal

posts at change of season.

Rolling Program Priority Listings (continued)

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 51

J.R. Parsons Reserve

Keilor Rec Reserve Tennis

Green Gully Reserve Oval & Ball Protection Fence

Kevin Flint Reserve Oval

Selwyn Park Oval

Balmoral Park

Ainsworth Reserve Oval

John McLeod Reserve Oval 1

Churchill Reserve Pitch 2 & Ball Protection Fence

Pitch 1 & 2

Keilor Park Reserve Pitch 3

Keilor Park Reserve Oval 1

McKechnie Reserve Pitch 2 & Ball Protection Fence

Robert Bruce Reserve Oval

Diamond Reserve

Keilor Park Ovals 2-4

Green Gully Reserve Training Fields

John McLeod Reserve 2

Sasella Park Tennis

Green Gully Reserve Bocce

Keilor Park Reserve Athletics

Robert Bruce Reserve

Keilor Park Reserve Pitch 2

Keilor Park Reserve Pitch 3

Keilor Lodge Reserve

Churchill Reserve Pitch 3

Kevin Flint Reserve Pitch 2

Churchill Reserve Pitch 2

Bon Thomas Reserve Rugby

Tallintyre Reserve

McKechnie Reserve

J.R. Parsons Reserve Tennis

Green Gully Reserve Soccer

Dempster Park 1 court

Lionheart Reserve 3 courts

Sassella Park 2 Courts

Delahey Reserve 2 courts

Green Gully Reserve 2 Courts

Green Gully Reserve 2 Courts

Overton Lea Reserve 2 courts

Green Gully Reserve 2 Courts

Lionheart Reserve 2 Courts

* Further Investigation will take place at identified school

sites to determine what sports facilities will best support

community sport.

Rolling Program Priority Listings (continued)

52 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Rolling Program Minimum Standards

Sports Surface/Ground

Redevelopment

• Playing Surface replacement including warm season grass and suitable

subsurface for natural sports grounds. Appropriate synthetic surface and

subsurface for synthetic sports surfaces including tennis courts

• Drainage

• Automated irrigation system (Natural sports surfaces only)

• Assessment and replacement as necessary of sports facility

infrastructure including coaches boxes/players benches, goal posts with

onsite goal post storage and playing surface perimeter fencing

• Dimensions and infrastructure meets the State Sporting

Association standards

New Sportsground Development • New playing surface including warm season grass or appropriate

synthetic surface and suitable subsurface

• Drainage

• Automatic irrigation system

• Sports field fencing

• Players benches

• Sportsground LED lighting lit to competition standard meeting State

Sporting Body LUX levels and Uniformity

• Carpark – subject to needs assessment

• Goal posts with onsite storage

• Path networks

Sports Ground Lighting

• Sportsgrounds lit to competition standard meeting State Sporting Body

LUX levels and Uniformity with capacity for future expansion

• LED lamps

Inclusive Facilities Upgrades

• Provision of showers and toilets that achieve appropriate privacy

• Provision of shelves and power points to vanities for general accessories

• Provision of baby change tables accessible by all genders

• Provision of separate umpire facilities or consideration of design options

that split change rooms and amenities to enhance flexibility

• Provision of social toilets that achieve appropriate privacy and meet

accessibility standards

Irrigation Upgrades

• Automated system designed to specific needs of the site

Warm Season Grass Conversion • Line plant/instant turf with warm season grass into existing surface

Sports Netting Upgrades

• 2-5 nets with synthetic carpet including 1 to remain open for community

use. Based on current participation at the facility.

• To relevant State Sporting Association/ Australian standards for

community level use or equivalent.

• Opportunities for multi-purpose use investigated depending on the site

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 53

Kitchen Upgrades

• New flooring

• New shelving

• New appropriate benchtops/splash back

• Oven and canopy

• On a need basis determined by Council, any infrastructure required to

site specific requirements or to adhere to requirements of the Building

Code of Australia

Players Benches Replacement • AFL, seating for 6 people

• Soccer, seating for 9 people

• Other Sports, seating as deemed appropriate by Council

Sports Shade and Cover

• Shade structure to be determined based on the needs of the sport and

site and budget available.

Goal Post Replacement

• Soccer, portable goals conforming to Australian Standard AS4866.1-

2007

• Other, as per the community level competition standard stipulated by

State Sporting Association.

• Suitable onsite storage as required.

Storage Refurbishment

• Storage solution determined by the needs of the sport and site and

budget available.

Sporting Reserve Fence

Replacement

• Minimum 900mm pipe and rail fence with black mesh infill

• Existing fence structure at the site will be taken into account when

designed to ensure amenity of the area

• Ball protection fences to be determined by the needs of the sport and

site and the budget available.

Sports Reserve Car Parks

• New asphalt surface

• Fencing

• Lockable gates

• Lighting

• Drainage

• Line marking of surface

• Pedestrian path network

• Appropriate signage

• Sustainable design (e.g. rain gardens)

Tennis Court Resurfacing,

• Site specific depending on existing surface, club requirements and Tennis

Victoria requirements.

54 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

A set of proposed facility standards has been

developed and is provided below. The standards will be

used as the guide to which Council will deliver when

developing new or upgraded sporting facilities.

The facility standards outlined below allow

flexibility in accommodating the specific needs

of the sporting and broader communities. They

provide a minimum standard to work to; guiding

expectations of what Council can reasonably be held

responsible for developing.

The standards set out in the table below include spaces

and particular features required for a building to comply

with relevant building codes. The three categories

for projects included in the Implementation Plan for

facilities are as follow:

Build New

The standards set out here are the minimum space

requirements for each function / element for a new

sports facility building.

Refurbish Existing

A refurbishment or upgrade of an existing facility aims

to ensure that specific functions of a building comply

with statutory or industry standards. This relates to

space required for toilets (disability access), kitchens

(health code compliance) and change rooms (some

state sporting industry standards). A refurbishment

project will involve using the existing footprint to bring

a facility up to standard where possible. In some cases a

project may require an extension to a facility to comply

with standards or if the cost of refurbishing an existing

facility becomes greater than building a new facility

Council will consider whether a new building should be

built instead.

Secondary Facilities

This facility is required where there is not a home

club based on site or there are a number of emerging

groups who utilise the sports ground on a casual basis

and there is a significant need to provide amenities

to participants and spectators. This facility provides

change rooms with toilets and showers, storage, basic

canteen facilities, small social space if required and

some shelter or shade from the elements. The design

of this facility enables future components to be added

to become a full pavilion.

Standard Facility Components

Council will provide the minimum fixtures and fittings

for the safe and functional use of community sporting

pavilions. Any items beyond the minimum standard

shall be totally responsibility of the sporting clubs with

the process for approval, financing and maintenance

outlined in the Community Facilities Capital

Contributions Policy.

Standard Facility Components

• Appropriate floor coverings

• Baby change tables accessible by all genders

• Bench style seating with hooks in change rooms

• Councils key/swipe card locking system

• Emergency, security and other light fittings

• Essential services e.g. Fire prevention and safety

equipment

• Heating and cooling (not in change rooms)

• Hot water service

• Kitchen preparation surfaces, benches and cabinets

• Non-commercial oven/ stove with relevant

extraction

• Plumbing fixtures and fittings for the provision of

showers, toilets, sinks and hand driers

• Roller screen doors and/ or panels where

appropriate

• Shelving with storage areas.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 55

Sports Facility Standards

Community Room

Build New

75m

2

75m

2

75m

2

100m

2

100m

2

A community room

will be supplied to

provide for both sports

clubs gatherings and

to encourage broader

community activity

and use.

Refurbish

Existing

Retain existing community room in an existing pavilion

A new or additional

community room space

will not be developed in

a refurbishment project.

Existing community room

spaces will be retained and

updated where required.

Secondary

Facilities

25m

2

The community room

will be assessed per site

depending on its use and

has the ability to link with

one of the change rooms

to provide a bigger space

if required.

Change Rooms

Build New

30m

2

X 2 30m

2

X 2 15m

2

x 2 30m

2

X 2 45m

2

X 2

Home and away teams

are catered for in separate

spaces with sufficient

space to accommodate

the maximum number of

team players using space

for the game. All change

rooms will be screened

from view of public access

areas. Universal design

principles will always be

implemented.

Refurbish

Existing

The minimum standard as specified above for each sport will be met where possible

when refurbishing an existing facility. The size of rooms will vary depending on the

existing footprint of each building.

Secondary

Facilities

30m

2

X 2 30m

2

X 2 15m

2

x 2 30m

2

X 2 45m

2

X 2 As per Build New.

56 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Toilets

Build New

15m

2

X 2 15m

2

X 2 15m

2

X 2 20m

2

X 2 25m

2

X 2

To meet Universal

Design Standard.

Refurbish

Existing

The minimum standard as specific above for each sport will be

met where possible when refurbishing an existing facility.

The size of rooms will vary depending on the existing footprint

of each building.

Secondary

Facilities

15m

2

X 2 15m

2

X 2 15m

2

X 2 15m

2

X 2 15m

2

X 2

Kitchen /Kiosk

Build New

25m

2

25m

2

25m

2

25m

2

25m

2

An area able to serve

simple pre-packaged food

and beverages externally

through an opening

window and internally

in accordance with the

sanitary requirements

of the Building Code of

Australia. Design should

include kitchen storage.

Refurbish

Existing

The minimum standard as specified above for each sport will be

met where possible when refurbishing an existing facility. The

size of rooms will vary depending on the existing footprint of

each building.

Secondary

Facilities

15m

2

15m

2

15m

2

15m

2

15m

2

Basic Kiosk with

external opening

service window

Umpires/Referees Room

Build New

10m

2

x 2 10m

2

x 2 N/A 20m

2

x 2 15m

2

x 2 Able to cater for women,

men and gender diverse

people. Separate shower

and change cubicles.

Shared locker/ foyer area.

One all gender toilet.

Refurbish

Existing

The minimum standard as specified above for each sport will be

met where possible when refurbishing an existing facility. The

size of rooms will vary depending on the existing footprint of

each building.

Secondary

Facilities

10m

2

unisex

10m

2

unisex

N/A

20m

2

unisex

15m

2

unisex

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 57

Storeroom

Build New

15m

2

X 2 15m

2

X 2 15m

2

X 2 20m

2

X 2 20m

2

X 2 Sufficient space for

seasonal users to

store appropriate to

sport requirement

training, program or

match equipment

and community user’s

group/s to store some

equipment.

Refurbish

Existing

The minimum standard as specified above for each sport will be

met where possible when refurbishing an existing facility. The

size of rooms will vary depending on the existing footprint of

each building.

New buildings should consider incorporating external and internal storage access.

Secondary

Facilities

20m

2

20m

2

20m

2

20m

2

20m

2

Consider providing

10m

2

internally and

10m

2

externally.

Public Toilet

Build New

1M + 1F DDA Code compliant

Toilets that are separate

to change rooms and with

ability to be open for public

use when tenant club not

present at facility. Consider

Council’s Public Toilet

Strategy (Exeloo toilet or

not)

Refurbish

Existing

1M + 1F DDA Code compliant or one unisex DDA compliant toilet

subject to any site restraints in the existing facility.

Secondary

Facilities

3M + 3F with at least 1 DDA compliant fully accessible

unisex toilet.

First Aid

Build New

15m

2

15m

2

15m

2

15m

2

15m

2

Provision will be made for

first aid room.

This may be a designed

for purpose space or at a

minimum will be a multiuse

space that can function as

an accessible first aid room

for match and training

days, including stretcher

and ambulance access.

Refurbish

Existing

The minimum standard as specified above for each sport will be

met where possible when refurbishing an existing facility. The

size of rooms will vary depending on the existing footprint of

each building.

Secondary

Facilities

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A N/A

58 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Cleaners’ store

Build New

1m

2

1m

2

1m

2

4m

2

1m

2

Secure storage

cupboard provided for

cleaning equipment

and chemicals.

Refurbish

Existing

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Not included unless

already exists at

facility.

Secondary

Facilities

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A Not included.

External Bin Storage

Build New

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

Externally accessible area

to neatly store bins and

recycling material .

Refurbish

Existing

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

Facility dependent.

Secondary

Facilities

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

3X 3m

2

Facility dependent.

Administration Room

Build New

10m

2

10m

2

10m

2

15m

2

15m

2

Able to be isolated from

sporting component of

the pavilion to assist team

office administration,

meeting and non-sporting

‘broader use’ activity.

Refurbish

Existing

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A unless already

component of the

facility with size to

remain the same.

Secondary

Facilities

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A Not included.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 59

Shelter

Build New

Shelter would generally take the form of a covered veranda area. Size may be dictated by the

design of the pavilion but it would generally be able to accommodate a team gathering.

Refurbish

Existing

Dependent on demand and budget

Secondary

Facilities

Shelter facing the sports ground/s the size of the sports toilet building will be provided.

Car Parking

Build New

Size determined by level of use and planning permit specifications. Components as per Council

minimum standard

Refurbish

Existing

As required at existing size with components as per Council minimum standard.

Secondary

Facilities

Size determined by level of use and planning permit specifications. Components as per Council

minimum standard

60 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Indoor sports facility hierarchy

The following indoor sports facility hierarchy assists

Council in making strategic decisions on the level of

provision necessary to service the current and future

needs of its sporting groups and residents. The

hierarchy will assist in determining the number of

facilities provided by Brimbank in each hierarchy and

outline the key facility components, functions and

estimated catchment for each.

1-2 indoor courts

Club training and competition use

All gender change rooms

Officials room

Spectator seating

Approx. 5km catchment

3-5 indoor courts

Club and association training and competition use

All gender change rooms

Officials room

Spectator seating

Primary catchment 5km

Secondary catchment 10km

6+ indoor courts (8+ courts for Netball)

Large association training and competition use

All gender change rooms

Officials room

Spectator seating

Approx. 15km catchment

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 61

Engagement with the relevant State Sporting

Associations provided the latest facility requirements

for each sport and their willingness to occupy and share

facilities.

Facility requirements

• Floor space required including portable barriers:

• One table – 5m x 10m

• 16 tables – 25m x 50m

• 24 tables – 35m x 50m

• Sprung wooden floor.

• Minimum 4m from floor to ceiling.

• Wall colour other than white.

• Minimum 600 lux lighting (no sky lights).

• Storage for maximum 36 table tennis tables, 4

metres x10 metres, including portable barriers and

umpires chairs.

• Access to toilets and drinking water.

• Change rooms are not mandatory.

• Diagonal length of full rectangular court is 14.723

metres.

• Four badminton courts (doubles) is 33m x 18m.

• 200 lux level lighting for recreational play, 750 to

1000 lux for international.

• Line marking 40mm wide must be easily

distinguishable and preferably be white or yellow.

• A minimum height of 7.6m floor to ceiling

• Access to change rooms, toilets and drinking water.

• Court is 18m x 9m and surrounded by a free zone 3m

wide on all sides.

• Minimum of 7m ceiling height (9m preferred) from

the playing surface.

• White line marking 5cm wide, different from the

colour of the floor.

• The boundary lines are the two side lines and end

lines.

• The centre line divides the court into two equal

courts, 9m x 9m each. This line extends from

beneath the net from sideline to sideline.

• Flat and a light coloured surface, wooden or

synthetic surfaces allowed.

• Basketball sized court with retractable basketball

rings are essential to allow for full use of the court.

• Spring based wooden floor.

• Recessed lights or nets to protect ceiling lights

• Reinforced spectator glass

• Portable benches between courts.

Shared facilities

Although badminton, table tennis, volleyball and futsal

have their own unique facility requirements, they are

able to share the same facility. With the appropriate

floor area, ceiling height, line marking, run off areas,

equipment storage and player and spectator amenities,

these sports are capable of sharing the same facility.

Models of this shared facility approach are in place

at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) and

Maribyrnong Secondary College.

Assessment of available Council owned

sites and other opportunities for

development

It is anticipated that approximately 20,000 square

metres (2 hectares) of land will be required to

accommodate the proposed four court facility. This

equates to approximately 6,000 square meters

of indoor court space and amenity, 12,000 square

metres of car parking and 2,000 square metres of

circulation space.

In 2020, ten Council owned sites and other known

opportunities were evaluated for their suitability

to accommodate the development of a new indoor

sports facility. The assessment of these sites

has been updated in 2023, with two of the sites

(274 Forrest Street, Ardeer and St Albans Leisure

Centre, Keilor Downs) being removed due to recent

developments no longer resulting in sufficient space

for an indoor stadium.

The eight sites outlined below remain as potentially

being suitable for the development of an indoor sports

facility subject to further detailed assessment via

established site assessment criteria in order to confirm

their suitability.

62 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Council Owned Sites

Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium is located at

one of Council’s largest sporting reserves, Keilor

Park Recreation Reserve. An additional three

indoor courts were developed at this venue in

2015, bringing total court numbers to six which

has assisted in addressing current demand.

Further expansion of KBNS is possible as there

is space available on site to accommodate an

additional three or more courts.

Energy Park is a centrally located 54 ha parcel

of land that is owned by Council and zoned

PPRZ. The Park is the only site in the south

of the municipality that has the attributes to

accommodate a regional multi-sports facility,

being suitably sized and near the Western

Ring Road, Western Highway and bus and train

routes.

Energy Park is identified in Councils Sports

Facility Development Plan 2018 as a site for

a future Regional Sports Facility including a

multipurpose Indoor Sports Stadium. Council

is in the process of developing the Sunshine

Energy Park Vision Plan which builds on the

Transforming Brimbank – Sunshine Priority

Precinct Vision 2050 adopted by Council in 2021.

It aims to leverage off the billions of dollars of

development and infrastructure that is being

delivered in Brimbank and Melbourne’s West

over the coming decade that will transform

the city. The draft Vision Plan shows a range of

future uses at the site, including a strong indoor

and outdoor sporting facilities presence that

will assist in meeting the Brimbank community

demand for sports facilities outlined in this plan.

The draft Vision Plan also positions Sunshine

Energy Park as an opportunity for Council

to partner with State Government Agencies

in developing a State Level sporting facility,

seeing it become a key destination in the west,

supporting the establishment of the Sunshine

Priority Precinct.

Sydenham Park is a large reserve of 231

Hectares in Keilor North with inherent

environmental, cultural and geological values. Its

distinct topography with dividing escarpment,

river valleys with vistas across the Maribyrnong

Valley, grasslands, fauna and flora population

provides an extraordinary backdrop to this

parkland setting. The site includes Keilor Public

Golf Course and the Keilor Golf Driving Range;

the Keilor District Model Aircraft Society;

Robertson’s Homestead and a Council depot.

The remainder of the park is characterised

by a mostly flat plain incised by river valleys.

Melbourne Airport is located to the north east of

Sydenham Park. The Sydenham Park Master Plan

does not identify an indoor stadium in the future

plans for the site.

The West Sunshine Community Centre is a 3.22

ha site owned by Council and accommodates the

West Sunshine Neighbourhood House, Indoor

Sports Court and Norm Tallintyre Reserve (one

cricket oval). It is the only Council owned indoor

sports court in the south of the municipality.

Cyril Clements Reserve is a Council owned

reserve that includes open space, Westvale

Community Centre for community programs, a

Men’s Shed and Community Garden. The site has

significant environmental considerations.

Sassella Park is a 4.86ha site with two

community halls, guide hall, scout hall, athletics

track, tennis courts with separate pavilion and a

stand alone playgroup building.

Other Opportunities

Sunshine College recently built one indoor court

to netball standard. The school have previously

expressed interest in working with Council to deliver

two additional community courts in the future.

In future identify non Council owned land in

the south of the Municipality with the required

characteristics for acquisition for the indoor

courts development. Possible sites include surplus

education land such as Graham Street Sunshine.

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 63

Map of potential future sites in Brimbank

A map of potential future sites assessed is provided below.

64 Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023)

Strategic Site Assessment Criteria

a. Land size and ownership

Is the site of sufficient size and owned by Council

to enable the efficient development of the

required facility?

b. Future expansion capability

Does the site have surrounding available land for

future facility expansion?

c. Planning / Zoning

Does the site meet all current and proposed

planning requirements needed to support the

development of the required facility?

d. Suitable topography

Is the site suitably flat and have suitable stable

soil conditions?

e. Site services

Are existing services available on site or closely

located to minimise cost?

f. Neighbourhood impacts

Does the proposed site have limited impact on

local residents? i.e. noise, traffic, lighting and

amenity?

a. Location to catchment population

Will the site location adequately service current

and future Brimbank residents living outside the

primary catchment of the KBNS?

a. Preserve Open Space

Will development of the site preserve open space

used by the community?

b. Preserve Biodiversity

Will the development of the site lead preserve

biodiversity and native species?

a. Site identified as suitable for Indoor Stadium

Has the site been previously been identified in a

Council strategic document as being suitable for

the development of an indoor sports facility?

b. Development of site in line with other Council

Strategic Plans

Is changing the use of the site supported by other

Council strategic documents?

a. Visibility of site

Is the site positioned near a major traffic zones

and provides high passive surveillance?

b. Site access

Is the site accessible by car and is there space for

appropriate levels of on and off site car parking,

bus parking and group drop off and pick up?

a. Capital Cost of Development

Is it likely there are minimal significant site

issues that will increase the potential cost of

development?

Site Scoring

Each of the nominated sites were assessed against the

site assessment criteria and given a score on a scale

between 0 and 10, with 0 being that the site does not

meet the selection criteria ranging through to 10 being

highly meets the selection criteria. The outcome of the

strategic scoring of sites is listed below.

1. Energy Park

124

2. Land acquisition in south

of municipality

112

3. Sunshine Secondary College

109

4. Keilor Basketball

Netball Stadium

108

5. Sassella Park

71

6. West Sunshine

Community Centre

69

7. Cyril Clements Reserve

61

8. Sydenham Park

52

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 65

Analysis

As a result of the assessment of the identified

Council owned sites or known opportunities it is

considered that only three existing sites are suitable

for consideration for the future development of

additional indoor courts in Brimbank. These ranked in

order are Energy Park, Sunshine Secondary College

and Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium however each

site has factors that need to be considered. The option

of identifying non Council owned land ideal for the

proposed development and acquiring it in the South

of the Municipality also scored highly as the exact

attributes required could be obtained.

Energy Park scored the highest due to the size of the

developable land, future expansion capabilities and

location to catchment population. Energy Park has

also been identified as a potential site for a regional

sports precinct in Council’s Sports Facility Development

Plan 2018 and more recently in the Sunshine Energy

Park Vision Plan. The site scored low on existing site

services and Council is aware of the considerations with

ground settlement due to its previous use, making this

a longer term development option.

The option of identifying non Council owned land

scored second highest as the attributes required

for the indoor stadium development could be met.

Acquiring the land would add to the overall project

cost. The land purchase price would be offset by

the ability to preserve existing open space and

biodiversity. A site would be selected if it highly meets

the site selection criteria.

Increasing the number of shared community courts at

Sunshine Secondary College and developing additional

courts at KBNS and were both well supported during

the assessment process. The location of Sunshine

Secondary College and its potential to service residents

in the southern part of the municipality makes it more

appealing than additional courts at KBNS.

The impact and cost for the redevelopment of

existing facilities at Sassella Park and West Sunshine

Community Centre to cater for an indoor stadium /

increasing the number of courts on site adds significant

cost to the project and would have a significant

impact on existing users meaning these sites are not

considered suitable.

Cyril Clements is not considered suitable due to

environmental considerations and the loss of open

space and biodiversity.

Sydenham Park is located in the north of the

municipality, close to KBNS and has significant

environmental and cultural heritage considerations

that make them a less suitable sites for the

development of additional courts to meet the needs

of the Brimbank community. In addition the Sydenham

Park Master Plan does not include any future plans for

an indoor stadium.

Future actions

Sports Facility Development Plan (Updated 2023) 67

This report concludes with the following future actions.

Council should:

1. Affirm its commitment to working in partnership

with local sporting bodies and other organisations

to deliver the best value for money solutions for the

Brimbank community.

2. Continue to work with local sports clubs, with

a focus on club development, to ensure current

facilities are being managed sustainably and

used at optimal levels. Emphasis should be

placed on encouraging local clubs to work more

closely with target groups such as females,

gender diverse, newly arrived residents, juniors

and people with disabilities.

3. Affirm its commitment to the criteria and

weightings set out in the Facility Development

Matrix as the methodology by which all sports

facility development projects will be assessed.

4. Continue to fund and implement annual rolling

program priorities as detailed within this Plan via

the annual Capital Works Plan.

5. Note the Facility Standards outlined in section 4

of this Plan.

6. Note the lists of projects and their priority order as

outlined in section 4 of this Plan.

7. Continue with planning to establish regional sports

facilities Energy Park providing for a range of

sporting activities including an indoor stadium to

meet the future needs of the Brimbank community.

8. Undertake a review of the following policies

incorporating the Victorian State Governments

Fair Access Policy and Fair Access Principles and

continue to implement the:

• Sports Facility Hire, Licenses and Leases

Agreement Policy and Guidelines for sports clubs.

• Community Facilities and Reserves Allocation

Policy and Guidelines for sports facilities to

deliver fair, equitable and consistent outcomes

for sporting clubs and community groups.

• Community Facilities Capital Contribution Policy

that clearly defines Council and sporting club

responsibilities towards the improvement of

Council owned sporting facilities.

9. Due to the significant health and wellbeing

challenges faced by the Brimbank community,

Council should advocate and seek financial support

from the State and Federal Government to address

the high demand for sports facilities by the

Brimbank community.

10.Actively pursue partnerships with local schools,

other organisations and neighbouring municipalities

for future development of sports facilities.

11. Partner with the education / private sector and

work with local schools / private sector to negotiate

increased community access to existing indoor

courts at school / private facilities.

9249 4000

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