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Thank you to everyone who took part in the two stages of consultation. We are now reviewing the feedback to help finalise the Sporting Facilities User Guide. The Allocation Policy will be presented to Council for adoption later this year.

Feedback from Stage 1 helped shape the draft Sporting Facilities User Guide and Allocation Policy, that was presented to the community during Stage 2 consultation.

More than 100 people contributed through surveys, drop-in sessions, and workshops with sporting clubs and other stakeholders. This feedback helped identify opportunities to improve how Council manages access to sporting facilities.

To learn more about what we heard during Stage 1 and how community feedback informed the draft documents, view the engagement summary and full findings report in the tab below.

Based on your feedback:

Stronger rewards for inclusive and well-run clubs

  • Redeveloped rewards and recognition for clubs leading inclusive, safe and welcoming environments, and best-practice governance, with the fee discount increased from 5% to 10%.

A clearer approach to managing non-compliance

  • Introduced a traffic light system to provide a clearer process for managing non-compliance, including signage, unauthorised use and access issues.

More flexible signage arrangements

  • Updated signage rules to allow match-day signs from Thursday evening to Sunday evening and, with a planning permit, up to eight permanent signs across scoreboards, coaches’ boxes and pavilions.

Improved communication about facility allocations

  • Introduction of QR codes and Council website updates to communicate facility allocations for training and competition.

Clearer facility operating hours

  • Clarified pavilion and sports field operating times.

Simplified cleaning and maintenance requirements

  • Simplified cleaning guidelines and maintenance schedule for clubs.

Allowing sponsorship signs on permit-holder fencing for the entire season

  • Council-managed sporting reserves are public spaces that need to balance the needs of sporting clubs with the wider community.
  • Year-round sponsorship signage on fencing has not been included because it can create ongoing visual clutter and affect the amenity of public open spaces.

Providing clubs with exclusive year-round access to a sporting facility

  • This has not been included because Council manages around 40 pavilions and sportsgrounds that are shared by 56 winter and summer sporting clubs.
  • With growing participation and limited space for new facilities, Council must allocate access fairly across all users.
  • Sporting facilities are community assets and need to remain available for shared use across different sports and seasons.

Increasing access to sportsgrounds for pre-season training

  • This has not been included because sportsgrounds need time to recover after the winter season.
  • Spring and summer are important periods for turf renovation, maintenance and preparation works.
  • Allowing grounds to recover helps ensure they remain safe and in good condition for future use.

Take a look at the draft Sporting Facilities User Guide and Allocation Policy.

Get involved

Stage 1 engagement

Community engagement

From 1 December 2025 - 18 January 2026, 102 people provided feedback to ensure fair access to Banyule's sporting facilities for both sporting clubs and the community, through an online survey, drop-in sessions with the community and a targeted stakeholder workshop with sporting clubs.

Take a look below at some of the other things we heard, or do a deeper dive by reading the Feedback Summary Report.

What we heard

  • Strong overall support

    There was strong overall support for the intent of the Sporting Facilities User Guide, especially its focus on inclusion, affordability and fair access.

  • Incentives for clubs

    There was support for:

    • Incentives for clubs that show good governance, gender equity and disability inclusion.
    • Increasing fee discounts for clubs that demonstrate these positive behaviours.

  • Key concerns

    • Frustration with restrictions on sponsorship signage.
    • Unclear rules about community access and how allocations are decided.
    • Conflicts at shared‑use sites.
    • Inconsistent maintenance standards and response times.
    • Cost of participating in sport, especially with rising living costs.

Next steps

The proposed draft SFUG will aim to:

  • Make rules and processes clearer and more transparent
  • Strengthen incentives for inclusive practices
  • Allow more flexibility where appropriate
  • Clearly explain maintenance and compliance expectations
  • Better balance the needs of organised sport and the wider community through improved communication.

Have your say on the draft Sporting Facilities User Guide and Allocation Policy until 27 September 2026.

What can you influence?

  • Rewards and recognition for clubs that demonstrate good practice.
  • Sponsorship signage rules and limits.
  • Access to sporting reserves and community use.
  • The proposed compliance process and traffic light system.
  • Cleaning and maintenance responsibilities.
  • Whether the guide and policy are clear and easy to understand.
  • How the proposed changes may affect you, your club or the community.
  • Any improvements or changes that should be considered before the guide is finalised.
  • Council will continue to have a Sporting Facilities User Guide and Allocation Policy.
  • Council will make the final decision on the policy.
  • Legal, safety, child safety and insurance requirements.
  • Season dates.
  • Preseason training restrictions.
  • Council's role in managing seasonal allocations.
  • Facility classifications and maintenance standards.
  • Public access to reserves and shared use of parkland.
  • Asset protection and compliance requirements.

Background

Use of sporting facilities in Banyule

Fair access to sports and facilities matters in Banyule. It helps keep people healthy and connected.

The Sporting Facilities User Guide and Allocation Policy outlines how sports facilities are managed, who can use them, and how they are allocated.

The User Guide outlines club and Council roles, responsibilities, and usage conditions; the Allocation Policy explains how allocation decisions are made.

The Policy review aims to:

  • set clear criteria for seasonal use of pavilions and grounds
  • explain the roles of Council and clubs, so that everyone understands their responsibilities
  • make sure facilities are allocated fairly

Your feedback will help shape a revised Sporting Facilities User Guide and Allocation Policy.