Concept Plan endorsed

The Bellairs Park Concept Plan was endorsed at the 17 June 2025 Council meeting, following two rounds of community feedback.

Following community feedback on the draft Concept Plan in March 2025, the final design retains the perimeter fence with gates, waste bins, and signage. There was broad support for the draft, especially for more greenery and overall upgrades to improve the current site's condition.

The off-leash window from 6–8am will remain, given the nearby informal children’s play equipment. This will be monitored and reviewed based on community feedback.

Three new seating options (two benches and a picnic table) bringing the total to four, addressing calls for more shaded seating. A new sign at the western gate reinforces on-lead dog rules, reflecting community concerns for compliance.

For more details and to view the Council meeting recording and report, visit Council’s website.

In response to community feedback in November 2023, a draft Concept Plan was developed, which included a perimeter fence with gates, dog waste bins, signage, and an off-leash window from 6–8am. Natural play elements were also proposed to replace the old structure removed in late 2024.

The draft Concept Plan was shared in March 2025, with 147 responses received via surveys, emails, and onsite conversations at Bellairs Park.

You can access the full engagement report via the Document Library.

Key themes from emails and conversations included calls for more off-leash times, hardier plants, additional seating and bins, smoke-free regulation, stronger enforcement of on-lead rules, and retaining fencing for child safety.

From the 137 online and hardcopy survey responses, we heard:

In November 2023, we wrote to local residents who live near Bellairs Park, inviting them to complete a short questionnaire on what they liked and disliked, and what they wanted to see improved.

You can read the Resident Feedback Summary in detail, which is located in the Document Library on this page.

We heard from 86 residents, who told us:

Bellairs Park is a small local open space located on the corner of Bellairs Avenue and Somerville Road Service Road in Yarraville. The park is adjacent to the Williamstown Railway Line and a short walk from Yarraville Station.

As per the Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy (2014) and the 5-Year Review of the Open Space Strategy in 2020, Bellairs Park is classified as a small local park, designed to support local residents within 200 metres.

Located on Bellairs Avenue in Yarraville, the site is largely underdeveloped with only open space, vegetation and seating.