Sports Strategy

Centennial Parklands has always experienced high demand for quality sporting grounds with over 14,000 individual sport and organised recreation events held annually.

As a result of the ongoing increases in the surrounding population, demand for open space and sporting grounds within Centennial Parklands and neighbouring council areas will continue to grow significantly.

Planning for now, planning for the future 

The Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust's Sports Strategy 2004-07 ensures that it continues to balance the demands that population growth produces, guide the future provision for and management of sport and other organised recreation activities in the Parklands, while also maintaining the character of the Parklands.

The focus of the strategy is designed to:

• identify the areas in Centennial Parklands that are most appropriate for sport and organised activity;
  
• determine which facilities should be provided in the future;
  
• determine the appropriate level of quality for different types of facilities and areas;
  
• guide the appropriate allocation and use of different areas and facilities by different user groups, including the availability of areas for future users; and
  
• consider the appropriate contribution from user groups and the partnerships that could be established.

One of the key aims of the strategy is to develop a regionally integrated approach to the provision of sport facilities. By establishing a regional network with surrounding local councils the Trust aims to minimise unnecessary duplication of regional assets and services.

Guiding Principles

Centennial Parklands will continue to provide a balance of sport and organised activity opportunities with informal recreation opportunities - and its planning will be guided by the following principles:

1. Centennial Parklands will continue to provide a balance of sport and organised activity opportunities with informal recreation opportunities.
   
2. Facilities in Centennial Parklands will be developed and managed to be appealing, safe and accessible, with an emphasis on providing a quality environment for sport and organised activity. This includes managing use to minimise impacts. Some facilities will be higher standard to cater for higher grade competitions, e.g. the Bus Loop Oval, ES Marks and the McKay Oval turf cricket pitch. This is consistent with the different levels of participation and requirements in sport. 
   
3. The relatively undeveloped character of the Parklands will be maintained when providing for sport. This will include appropriately locating and limiting the development of buildings and structures such as amenities, shelters, storage areas, lighting and activity structures.
4. Sporting development will be less dominant in Centennial Park compared to areas that have a greater emphasis on sport such as ES Marks, Moore Park and Queens Park. Centennial Park will maintain a stronger informal recreation focus.
5. The principle of multi-use will be encouraged and ‘exclusivity of use’ will be avoided in Centennial Parklands. Generally grounds and amenities will cater for a number of activities or a number of groups.
6. Sporting grounds will generally be accessible to the wider community for informal recreation use. Access will only be restricted if there are safety issues or the quality of the facility justifies protection from day to day use.
7. The allocation of grounds will be equitable and based on justified demand. This will involve reviewing allocations each year, supporting existing and new users in accordance with demand and the availability of grounds and limiting lease and license arrangements.
8. User fees will be based on obtaining a fair and equitable contribution from sport and organised activity groups towards day to day operations and improvements.
   
9. There may be partnerships with user groups and other organisations to achieve facilities, improvements and activities. However, a partnership will not result in a group controlling or gaining exclusivity of use of an area or facility. The Trust may continue to subsidise activities in recognition of the benefits of participation.
10. Strategies in Centennial Parklands Sports Strategy must be financially viable and justified. This may involve detailed feasibility assessment and consultations with users prior to implementation for some strategies.

Consultation

The development of the Sports Strategy has involved a consultative approach with sport and organised activity groups and Centennial Parklands staff, including:

• Consideration of the consultation findings in other relevant studies such as the Moore Park South Master Plan
• Planning sessions with the Management Team of Centennial Parklands.
• Meetings with operational and planning staff at Centennial Parklands.
• Consultation with the Centennial Parklands Community Consultative Committee.
• Planning sessions with sporting groups and school representatives.
• Establishment of and consultation with a Project Advisory Group, with sport, school and community representatives.
  

Key projects

The Sports Strategy identified a number of key projects to be implemented by the Trust over the next five years, including:

• Developing a regional approach to planning the provision of sporting facilities;
• Developing a safety and security plan for accessing sporting facilities;
• Implementation of the transport access and parking plan;
• Communication and involvement of sports and activity groups;
• Effective ongoing management of demand for facilities;
• Enhanced amenities and quality of fields and courts;
• Review of fee structures;
• Upgrade equestrian facilities;
• Improved management and support of cyclist groups; and 
• Further development of golf facilities

Summary document

Download a summary of the Sports Strategy (PDF, 207 kb).

Further information

Further information on the Centennial Parklands Sports Strategy is available by contacting the Recreation Services Officer on (02) 9339 6699, or e-mail info@centennialparklands.com.au.