Every season, sports clubs, schools and other groups apply to use Council's sportsgrounds and pavilions. The way Council assesses and prioritises these applications, and what fees apply, is guided by our Sportsground Allocation Policy.

Our current policy is more than a decade old and no longer reflects how our community uses sportsgrounds today. Participation is growing, demand for access is increasing, and the needs of clubs and the community are changing. Council needs a more equitable, transparent, and consistent approach to managing access to sportsgrounds, ensuring allocations are fair and continue to meet the needs of the community.

The new policy will also support Council's commitment to the Victorian Government's Fair Access Roadmap, which promotes equitable access to community sports infrastructure for women and girls, as well as other under-represented groups.

This is your opportunity to help shape the policy before it is finalised. Please complete the survey below to share your feedback.

Why we need a new policy

Our sportsgrounds are under growing pressure, and the way we manage access and fees needs to keep pace.

The new Sportsground Allocation Policy has been developed through a thorough review of how Council's sportsgrounds are currently used, how allocation decisions are made, and how our approach compares with other councils across Melbourne.

This work draws on:

• An internal review of current allocation processes, terms and conditions, and fee structures.
• Benchmarking against allocation policies and fee frameworks from comparable inner-Melbourne councils.
• Feedback from the Active Stonnington engagement program in 2025, which identified fair access, flexible participation options and support for diverse sporting needs as key community priorities.
• Feedback from the previous Sir Zelman Cowen Plan engagement which captured views from clubs and users of Council's largest multi-sport precinct.
• The Fair Access Policy 2024-27, which commits Council to equitable access to facilities and playing time for people of all genders, ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Before the policy is finalised, we want to hear whether these objectives, allocation factors and fee considerations reflect what matters most to your community.

Policy objectives

The draft policy is guided by the following objectives:

• Fair and consistent decisions for all sportsground applications.
• Equitable access for everyone, including groups who have historically been underrepresented such as women and girls.
• Making the most of Council's sportsgrounds and pavilions for the whole community.
• Balancing Council's responsibilities as a landowner with recognising the important role sporting clubs play in community life.
• A simpler, clearer process for clubs and Council.

Factors that may be considered in allocation decisions

When applicants apply for sportsground access, applications will be assessed against the following factors:

• Equitable and fair access.
• Programs and plans for diversifying participation and inclusion.
• Historical use and responsible management of council facilities.
• Organisation sustainability and governance.
• Level of competitions and alignment with sporting season.
• Efficient use and sustainable management of sportsgrounds.

Fees and charges

The new policy will establish a clear and consistent fee framework for the use of Council's sportsgrounds, pavilions and facilities. Fees will apply to sports clubs, schools and personal trainers.

The fee framework aims to be transparent and sustainable, recovering a fair share of the costs of maintaining facilities while remaining affordable for community sport. Currently Council subsides a small percentage of maintenance costs and recovers costs through fees and rates. The new framework will look to improve on this while keeping fees reasonable and clearly explained.

What you can shape

• Whether the policy objectives reflect the right priorities for your community.
• Which allocation factors should carry the most weight when competing applications are assessed.
• How fees should be structured, including what factors should influence what a club, school or personal trainer pays.
• The pace at which the new policy and fee changes are introduced, particularly for clubs who may need time to adjust.

We understand that changes to fees and allocation processes can take time to plan for. Your feedback will help us determine a realistic and supported transition timeline.

What won't change

• The need for a new, transparent and consistent allocation framework. The current policy is over a decade old and needs to be reviewed and redeveloped.
• Council's commitments under the Fair Access Policy 2024-27, including prioritising equitable access for women, girls and underrepresented groups.
• How Council allocates sportsgrounds. Council is responsible for planning and managing the sustainable use of sportsgrounds to balance current demand with future community needs.

What happens next

Once the survey closes, we will review all feedback and use it to inform the development of the draft Sportsground Allocation Policy and Fee Framework. We will share a summary of what we heard on this page.

Follow this page to receive updates on the progress of the policy, including when the draft policy is open for community feedback and when the policy is adopted.

Privacy Statement

The personal information requested in this survey is being collected by Council for the purpose of community consultation.

To find out how your personal information will be used by Council please visit the privacy policy page.