Bayside City Council Elsternwick Park North Redevelopment Deliberative

Bayside City Council Elsternwick Park (North) Redevelopment Deliberative Panel Presentation on behalf of Elsternwick Amateur Football Club (EAFC) Presenter: Alan Ramsay 1

ELSTERNWICK PARK: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE • The Park is approx 95 acres in the northern most corner of the City of Bayside, surrounded by Cities of Glen Eira and Port Phillip • Originally a swamp, the Park was initially controlled by a Committee of Management which lacked resources. The No. 1 Oval was developed by the Elsternwick Cricket Club (ECC) and the local community • The City of Brighton took direct control of Elsternwick Park in 1978 • Until the redevelopment of the section south of Bent Avenue in the 1990’s, Elsternwick Park was almost entirely devoted to organized sports facilities. • In choosing between the options put forward for the redevelopment of Elsternwick Park (North) the Panel need to take into account the changing demographics of the area and what already exists in Elsternwick Park (South) 2

WHO IS THE ELSTERNWICK AMATEUR FOOTBALL CLUB • EAFC is an Australian Rules football club founded in 1906 • We have 2 senior men’s teams in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) • EAFC is the third oldest amateur club • We play in the lower grades of the VAFA competition, and provides opportunities for players of all ability levels. • VAFA is a tenant of Elsternwick Park No. 1 oval • EAFC has strong links with Elsternwick Cricket Club (ECC) 3

EAFC LINKS TO ELSTERNWICK PARK • EAFC has always played at Elsternwick Park, initially on the No. 1 Oval, which we shared with the Brighton Football Club (VFA) from 1926 to 1954 • Since 1955 we have played on the No. 2 Oval, during this period, there has been chronic underinvestment in the ground and facilities • VAFA and Council have ruled that No. 2 Oval is not satisfactory for competition. For the past several seasons we have, effectively, been without our own home ground • As an Amateur club, our ground and facilities are KEY in attracting players • For several years, Bayside Council has listed the refurbishment of the No. 2 Oval pavilion as its highest priority 4

EAFC LINKS TO THE COMMUNITY • Since its inception, ‘ 000’s of young men have played football and ‘ 00’s of men and women have volunteered their time and effort with the club, providing social capital – social skills, friendship and family involvement. • Research shows that participating in organized sporting clubs provides health benefits – both physical and mental for participants and volunteers • In our 24/7 world, adult involvement in organized sport has become less of a focus, this is reflected in the redevelopment of Elsternwick Park (South) • Several local senior football clubs (for example, Elwood Football Club) have folded 5

EAFC LINKS TO THE COMMUNITY cont. • EAFC has strong links to the Aus. Kick group at Elsternwick Park and was a partner in the application to develop Elsternwick Junior Football club. Unfortunately, this application was unsuccessful. • To develop as a club we need to broaden our base and seek opportunities to establish a juniors program, for both boys and girls, and women’s teams. For this we need a suitable oval and facilities. • We can see the opportunity with the strength of the Elsternwick Park based Auskick program. 6

REVIEW OF REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS 1. Open Space, Environment and Sustainability • No agreement on whether Oval No. 2 stays or goes • Landscape Architect’s plan shows Oval 2 largely ‘AS IS’ • Given the size, condition and historical lack of investment into Oval 2, this is NOT acceptable to EAFC 7

REVIEW OF REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS 2. Play, Community and Open Space • Proposes a new Oval and pavilion south of Oval No. 1, plus additional sports areas in existing Oval 2 • No golf course, rather community open space similar to Option 1 • Preferred option for EAFC 8

REVIEW OF REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS 3. Active Sports, Play and Community • Retains a redeveloped 9 hole Golf course • Landscape Architects plan shows a new full size oval surrounded by the golf course, BUT? ? ? • IF a new Oval is created, seemingly OK for EAFC • BUT: is the golf course financially sustainable? What are the current lessee’s intentions? What effects might this have on timing of any redevelopment? 9

SUMMARY • Play, Community and Open Space provides the best option for EAFC • A new oval and pavilion will provide the platform for EAFC’s increased community engagement into the next 100 years • Whatever is decided, the interim/transition period will be difficult for the sporting clubs involved 10