At its April meeting, Council adopted the Recreation Strategy and the Aquatic Strategy.
Both strategies support strengthening local connections, promoting health and wellbeing, and ensuring fair and inclusive access to quality indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities. They focus on revitalising existing infrastructure for multipurpose use, planning for future growth and creating safe, welcoming spaces that encourage participation and connection.
The Active Bayside Strategy 2026 - 2036 sets a clear framework for enhancing community wellbeing through diverse, equitable and inclusive sport and recreation opportunities. It builds on the foundations of Active by the Bay 2013-2022, which championed inclusivity, community connectivity, and facility improvements across Bayside.
Officers are now progressing the priority infrastructure projects for consideration as part of the 2026-27 Budget process, which are anticipated to include:
- pump track: identifying suitable locations and progressing designs
- active recreation infrastructure: increasing the quality and provision
- improving the administration of recreation related Council functions, including:
- seasonal allocations
- approaches to accommodating club-initiated projects
- storage issues
- consideration of how Council can best accommodate the increasing demand for the use of all types of Council's recreation facilities, including sportsgrounds and indoor facilities.
Officers will regularly review the Strategy's Action Plan to respond to the changing landscape, and significant recreation or policy trends.
The Bayside Aquatic Strategy 2026 - 2036 includes key directions that inform aquatic facility provision for the Bayside community for the next 10 years and beyond. The strategy considers Bayside's existing aquatic facilities, the Middle Brighton Baths and Sandringham Family Leisure Centre, as well as determining future facility developments required to meet Bayside community needs for the long term.
The new Strategy incorporates the development of a new aquatic facility to replace the existing Sandringham Family Leisure Centre which has reached its end-of-life
Services in the new facility are anticipated to include a health club (gym), group fitness studio(s), warm water pool, café, amenities, wellness zone with hot and cold immersive, spa and sauna, a 25m program pool and an indoor splash park/water play.
Council officers are now proceeding with a detailed site feasibility assessment of the 2 shortlisted locations:
- the existing aquatic facility location on Tulip Street
- at the Brighton Golf Course.
This will include:
- design development and a business case incorporating capital and operating costs
- a preferred management model and cost/benefit analysis
- development of a funding strategy to consider how the construction of the facility will be funded
- investigations and recommendations on how Bayside City Council can continue to ensure the delivery of suitable basketball infrastructure noting that the redevelopment of the Sandringham Family Leisure Centre may impact at least 4 of the current basketball courts, and alternatively, noting that if the Brighton Golf Course site is chosen, Council will need to review the land use of the Tulip Street site
- consideration of the plans of neighbouring councils in relation to basketball infrastructure, noting that there is currently a shortage of basketball courts in the region
Council will receive a report at a future Council Meeting with the findings of the next stage of feasibility assessment, incorporating a peer review.
Community consultation was conducted in October and November 2025. More than 1,200 community and stakeholder touchpoints recorded to help inform the Recreation and Aquatic Strategies.
