Outdoor Sports Infrastructure and Allocations Policy

The Outdoor Sports Infrastructure and Allocations Policy was endorsed by Council in August 2024 and is available to the public. We would like to thank you for providing feedback during the community consultation period. Your input was crucial in ensuring the Policy is responsive to Manningham’s evolving sporting landscape.

What is the Outdoor Sports Infrastructure and Allocations Policy?

The development of the Policy has involved a comprehensive review and consolidation of the Council’s previous Outdoor Sports Infrastructure Policy and Sporting Facilities Allocation Policy.

The review involved extensive research and analysis to identify and respond to emerging issues and opportunities including participation growth, increasing facility demands, cost escalation and alignment to the State Government’s Fair Access Policy.

The policy will govern the allocation processes for Council outdoor sports facilities, covering seasonal, annual, and casual bookings. It will also establish facility standards and outline the financial contributions required for new developments or enhancements to existing facilities.

What are the key changes in the Policy?

Several changes have been made from the previous policies, including:

• Changes to the eligibility and scoring criteria for the seasonal and annual allocation of outdoor sports fields and pavilions.
• The introduction of a penalty system for breaches of licence agreements.
• Changes to funding contributions for floodlighting and electronic scoreboards.

Who is impacted by the policy?

Primarily user groups and sporting clubs that utilise Council’s outdoor sports infrastructure. Other groups including schools, personal trainers and casual users may also be impacted.

The Policy will influence the development and use of sporting facilities and may therefore impact participation opportunities for the wider community.

When will this policy come into effect?

Implementation will occur as a staged approach in accordance with the following dates:

1 April 2025 – Implementation of the sports facility allocations component to align with 2025 winter allocations.

1 July 2025 – Implementation of the infrastructure and financial contributions component to align with the 2025/26 budget.

Further Information

For more information, including the Council report on these policies, see the Council meeting minutes, 27 August 2024, item 11.2.

If you have any questions or need help interpreting the Policy, our Community Projects and Planning Team is here to assist you.

You can reach us at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au or by calling 9840 9333.