Recreation Reserve Management Framework

Moorabool Shire Council has levelled the playing field for users and Volunteer Committees of Management of the Shire’s sports grounds and recreation facilities at last night’s Regular Meeting of Council.

Moorabool Shire Council adopted a new Recreation Reserve Management Framework(DOCX, 125KB) which aims to simply the management, funding and use of the twenty-seven recreation reserves and facilities within the Shire.

The Framework is an integrated model for the management of the reserves and comprises five key strategies focused on governance, funding, fees, use agreements and capital works. The Framework and strategies will guide the funding and use of the reserves over the next 15 to 20 years.

Mayor of Moorabool Shire, Cr Allan Comrie said “this Framework is a significant step forward in the management and use of our twenty-seven recreation reserves and facilities”.

“Council has strived to deliver a simpler, fairer and transparent system for managing and funding the reserves over the next 15 to 20 years”.

“Ultimately these policies will enable all stakeholders to work toward the sustainability and improvement of the management and maintenance of our recreation reserves”.

The Framework and policies are the result of significant community and user group consultation over two years. 

The five policies adopted by Council within the Recreation Reserve Management Framework are:

  1. Community Facilities Funding Policy(DOC, 584KB)  – defines Council’s role in supporting the management of community facilities and the provision of annual operating funding.
  2. Appointment and Delegations Policy(DOC, 160KB) – clarifies the roles of the Committees of Management, their powers and responsibilities, processes and Council support for the delegated committees under Section 86 of the Local Government Act.
  3. User Fees and Charges Policy(DOC, 292KB)  – simplifies the fees and charges applied to recreation reserves. Applies a consistent and fair model for fees and charges across all the Council owned reserves. To be implemented over three years.
  4. Recreation Facility Lease and Licence Occupancy Policy(DOC, 118KB)  – provides greater certainty of use to user groups and Council. The policy contains three types of usage agreements: leases, licences and casual use, which enable usage agreements to be tailored around the requirements of the user.  
  5. Capital Works Contribution Policy(DOC, 160KB)  – defines Council’s provision of funding for capital works and enables clubs to identify projects for self-funding and co-funding. The policy sets a 15 to 20 year plan for investment into the recreation reserves.

Councillors acknowledged the excellent work of the Volunteer Committees of Management and the users of the reserves, many of which have made improvements and invested into the reserves and facilities.

Related Information

Sport and Recreation
Recreation, Sporting and Leisure
Recreation Strategies and Policies

Back to top