Question 1 from Dermot:

If we assume basketball court demand identified in 2018 is still valid and that, in fact 12 courts are required, then we can assume that the 4 to 6 'multi-use' courts in this stadium would immediately have a full schedule just catering to basketball games. In real life terms, how will this also benefit netballers, futsal players, indoor hockey players, badminton players and whomever else has been told this space will benefit them?

A follow up question - how does the needs of the 1.5% (potentially 3.5%) of basketballers in Maribyrnong compare to the needs of the 12% of dog owners in the council area and likely even larger number of users who would benefit more from open space than from a structured sports-focused, ultimately private building with limited usage, availability and open hours?

Answer:

Council recognises the need for a multi-use indoor sports facility within the municipality to service multiple codes. It is not proposing an indoor basketball stadium but an indoor sports facility with multiple indoor courts that can be used by a range of indoor sporting codes (including but not limited to basketball, futsal, netball, volleyball). Court scheduling is a proven effective and efficient way of managing competing demands to ensure a range of sporting codes are able to be accommodated in any given facility.

Council must navigate competing demands of its community. It is not a matter of prioritising one set of needs over another. We have identified a need for an indoor sports facility within our municipality to support our growing population, while also recognising the value placed on open space by our community generally, including but not exclusively dog walkers.

Question 2 from David:

Who would be able to use the indoor sports facility? Would I need to be a member of a sports club?

I’d also like to add that I am a keen table tennis player socially but not a member of any club, so my love of the game doesn’t show up in your reporting on registered table tennis players in Vic. I’m sure I’m not the only one, too. Will the facility you build be used for multiple sports on the same court, so one night it may be set up for netball and the next table tennis?

Answer:

Council recognises the need for a multi-use indoor sports facility within the municipality to service multiple codes. Its preference would be the development of multiple indoor courts that can be used by a range of indoor sporting codes (including but not limited to basketball, futsal, netball, volleyball).

At this early stage, we cannot determine how court usage and availability might work. However, Council actively works with facility owners across the municipality to secure greater community access to the facilities they need, including facilities that support table tennis.

We have also noted your comments about table tennis as a consideration in our planning.

Question 3 from Mark:

1. Has or will Council negotiated with the developer of the Bradmill site, for a land contribution rather that cash open space contribution. A land contribution, would enable greater ability for publicly accessible green open space. Furthermore, the pinch point at the entry to the park from Francis Street could be widened and a more inviting entry could be created should part of the Bradmill site be given reserve status via the subdivision process.
2. What consideration is given to the western interface of Mclvor reserve and potential to create publicly accessible green open links through the Bradmill site. Careful consideration needs to be given to public and private interface to ensure that Mclvor Reserve is not privatised or an unsafe environment is created via no passive surveillance.

Answer:

The Maribyrnong Planning Scheme requires all new subdivisions to contribute a minimum 5.7% of their site value as a public open space contribution. As you mentioned, this contribution can be in the form of land, a monetary contribution, or a combination of both. The approved Bradmill Development Plan shows a linear park running through the site, as well as two smaller ‘pocket parks’ for future residents and the wider community to enjoy. This exceeds the requirements of the Maribyrnong Planning Scheme.

The Development Plan further includes improvements to Francis Street, including a median strip and two new signalised intersections at Richards and Francis Streets and Roberts Road and Francis Street. The continuation of Roberts Road has further been approved within the Bradmill Development plan. This new road will likely address your concerns re the Western interface of McIvor Reserve and the Bradmill development. You can view the plans in full via the following link.

McIvor Reserve is no different in regards to the public/private interface with surrounding residential areas where appropriate use and public safety are governed by planning rules, etc.

We appreciate there are strong views within our community around the potential to site an indoor sports facility at McIvor Reserve and Council will be looking to balance these competing needs to ensure the best outcome is obtained for the community as a whole.

Question 4 from Scarlett:

What is Council doing about the next generation of kids that want to play indoor sports considering the area is set to have a large increase in population- especially kids?

Answer:

Council is acutely aware of the need for an indoor sports facility to ensure our young people have access to the sports they love close to home.

Young people aged from 15-17 have the highest rates of participation in sport and physical recreation and Council recognises its responsibility to support those who wish to play sport with the opportunity to do so.

With this in mind we are planning now for the future by actively looking for a space in our municipality to build a facility so that sporting clubs can continue to grow and welcome new members to meet demand as our population increases, so that the next generation does not miss out.

Questions from Jon:

Question 5:

Firstly I would like to say that during the lockdown McIvor reserve was a lifesaver for many of us and I don't want to see it reduced in size. In a recent flyer from Patrick Jess -"Open Letter to Community"- he stated that "no significant open space will be impacted at McIvor Reserve." How could an indoor sports center be built without the loss of any parkland ? Do you agree that is a misleading statement? Why did you not mention in that flyer that the Bowling Club will be impacted through a relocation?

Answer:

Council recognises the importance of open space and reiterates its commitment to maintaining and improving these spaces. In the Open Letter to the community, it was in fact stated “At this stage of the planning process there is no suggestion significant open space will be impacted if McIvor Reserve is identified as a preferred site for an Indoor Stadium”. Council stands by this statement recognising it has previously demonstrated through the master planning process that upgrades of Reserves can in fact result in the increase of open space. We are not relocating the Bowling Club.

Question 6:

On first of July 2021 the amended 'Environment Protection Act' of 2017 came into effect. At the centre of this legislation is "The general environmental duty" of every victorian to reduce the risk of harm from our activities:

- to human health and the environment

- from pollution or waste

Are you bound by that legislation and do you acknowledge that any reduction in the size of McIvor Reserve will negatively impact the efficacy of McIvor reserve as an important source of air purification?

Answer:

Council complies with all state-based legislation and is committed to improving air quality across our municipality. It has recently endorsed the Maribyrnong Air Quality Improvement Plan, one of the first Plan of its type in Victoria.

While no studies have been done to quantify the specific value of any reserve over another in terms of air purification, Council appreciates the benefits to human and environmental health from all of the open spaces within its municipality. At this stage of the planning process there is also no suggestion significant open space will be impacted if McIvor Reserve is identified as a preferred site for an Indoor Stadium.

Question 7:

Have you explored the idea of engaging the new owners of Bradmill estate for a possible collaboration with them? Through their website they have expressed their intention of being part of an 'enhanced' McIvor Reserve as an open space.

Answer:

Council is in regular discussion with the owners of the Bradmill site regarding the development of their site in accordance with the 2010 Agreement under Section 173 of the Planning and Environment Act and the approved 2012 Development Plan for the site. There are a number of provisions within the approved Development Plan that will bring enhancements to McIvor Reserve.

This includes construction of a median strip and two new signalised intersections at Richards and Francis Streets and Roberts Road and Francis street. The plan also incorporates the continuation of Roberts Road along the western boundary of the Reserve.

Question 8:

The report into the Maribyrnong Indoor Sports Stadium Strategy was completed in 2018. In view of the failed 'Football Park' saga, why have you taken 4 years to make this report public?

Answer:

The Maribyrnong Indoor Sports Stadium Strategy was endorsed at a public meeting of Council in December 2018 and can be found as an attachment to the meeting minutes which you can view via the following link.

Question 9:

We do not oppose the building of an indoor sport court in our council areas. However such sport grounds will potentially be used by members of the entire Melbourne population. Upon completion these grounds will have to be maintained with ratepayers money via council rates, which are already very high. Why should the ratepayers of this council subsidise infrastructures that many of us will not even use?

Why not consider giving incentives to private enterprises, similar to Hobson Bay council and the Sport Point in Altona North.

Answer:

Council has a responsibility under the Local Government Act 2020 to provide facilities and services that benefit the wellbeing of the entire municipal community. The provision of sport and recreation facilities for community use is an important and well-established function of Councils in achieving this, as are libraries and community centres, which are also funded by ratepayers, but that not everyone uses.

Council is open to working with third parties, including private providers, to support service provision for its community where appropriate.

Question 10:

The council's Open Space Strategy was released in 2014 and states the need to:

- Ongoing improvements to existing open space including the integration of improved unstructured recreational facilities at McIvor Reserve.

- As a minimum improved path connections for access between the established residential area and the forecast new population in the Bradmills Site west of McIvor Reserve

You have done a 180 degrees flip, have paid for another report that contradicts the first one, therefore wasted more money.

You are now proceeding with a Master plan yet it's clear the users of this park are against it.

Why not stop the proceedings right now and waste money no longer?

Answer:

In line with the Open Space Strategy 2014 that states the need for “ongoing improvements to existing open space including the integration of improved unstructured recreation facilities at McIvor Reserve” Council is seeking the views of the community on the improvements they would like to see, so that as much as practicable, any enhancements meet their needs.

The development of a masterplan is the process by which Council supports the delivery of the Strategy. Of the around 1200 residents who have provided feedback directly to us, there is majority support for improved shade, seating, fencing and ground conditions, in the draft masterplan.

As part of this engagement we also sought to understand the appetite for a potential indoor sports facility on the site which has indicated a near-even split between those in support and those opposed. The masterplan process and associated engagement activities are part of a democratic process to provide opportunity for the community to be involved in our decision-making. Outside of staff time, there is no cost attached to this.

There are a number of provisions within the approved Development Plan for the Bradmill site that will bring enhancements to McIvor Reserve. This includes construction of a median strip and two new signalised intersections at Richards and Francis Streets and Roberts Road and Francis streets. This Plan also incorporates the continuation of Roberts Road along the western boundary of the Reserve.

Additional community question:

Can you please advise of the precise square metreage of the linear park and the two pocket parks on the Bradmill Development Plan and, if you divide that amongst the 4000 anticipated new residents, advise how much green space person that would equate to?

Answer:

The Maribyrnong Planning Scheme requires all new subdivisions to contribute 5.7% of their site value as public open space contribution. The approved Development Plan for the Bradmill site exceeds these open space requirements

The precise square metreage is not available in the plan but you can view the concept drawings showing indicative location and size athttps://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Residents/Major-planning-projects/Bradmill-Precinct-Francis-Street-Yarraville

Please note the approved Bradmill Development Plan allows for 1300-1500 new dwellings.