Yarra City Council endorses revised design for Brunswick Street Oval sporting and community facilities
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the revised design for Brunswick Street Oval sporting and community facilities.
After comprehensive community consultation, as well as consultation with the Edinburgh Gardens sporting clubs and Victorian Government, a revised design for the redevelopment of sporting and community facilities at the Brunswick Street Oval has been endorsed by Council.
The consultation findings were presented to Council on Tuesday 17 December. During this meeting, the revised design and next steps for the project were endorsed.
In response to community feedback, Council’s resolution also included an amendment to publish a new landscape plan designed to improve the interface between the sports pavilion and St Georges Road and not proceed with planting additional trees on "Hipster Hill".
With Council’s endorsement, the next steps and timing include:
- further design consultant engagement – early 2025
- planning approval amendment and heritage permits applied for – early 2025
- tree removals – early 2025
- tender for tennis improvements – early 2025
- early infrastructure works commence – mid-2025
- award contract for tennis improvements – early to mid-2025
- tender for design and construction of sport pavilion – mid-2025
Learn more about the consultation - November 2024
In April 2022, a project to redevelop the sporting facilities at the Brunswick Street Oval was presented for community consultation. These facilities service the Fitzroy Tennis Club, Edinburgh Cricket Club, Fitzroy Junior Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club.
The feedback received was used to inform the design that was endorsed by Council in May 2022. This project has funding support from the Victorian Government.
What has happened since 2022?
Like many councils in Victoria, supply chain issues and the rising cost of materials and labour have impacted project delivery. As a result, we were unable to commence construction of the new sports pavilion as planned in late 2023.
Council is committed to delivering this project and has been working with key stakeholders including sporting clubs and the Victorian Government to create a revised design for the facilities that can be delivered within the available budget, while still meeting the needs of the local community.
The revised design is now ready for community feedback. Tell us what you think using the survey tool at the bottom of the page.
What's changed within the revised design?
| Previous design | Revised design |
| The previous design included a 2-storey sports pavilion located at the northwestern corner of the oval. This will still proceed. | To meet costing requirements, the area of the pavilion has been reduced and the number of changing rooms in the new pavilion has decreased from 4 to 2. Minor upgrades are proposed to the umpires’ area and 2 change rooms located in the grandstand to ensure the facilities still meet growing community need. The pavilion will also include externally accessible toilets for public and sporting event spectator use. |
| Previous design | Revised design |
| The previous design included the demolition of the existing community room attached to the grandstand. Within this proposal, the area gained from the demolition would be used to expand the tennis court layout and a replacement community room area. | To meet costing requirements, the demolition and replacement of the existing community room is no longer proposed. |
| Previous design | Revised design |
| The previous design used the area gained from the demolition of the existing community room to expand the tennis court layout, including 2 additional courts, relocation of the existing club house and a new tennis pavilion. | As Council will no longer use the space from the demolished community room, additional public open space is proposed to be used for tennis courts and facilities in the previously approved design. This option will involve: - constructing 2 new compliant synthetic courts - renovating the 6 existing courts to be compliant within standards - demolishing the existing amenities adjacent to the community room consisting of basic male and female toilet and change areas - relocating the existing club house - constructing adjoining additional social space and replacement amenities |
| Previous design | Revised design |
| Major internal reconfiguration works including addition of externally accessible public toilets. External stairs replaced and lockable access gates added. | Minor upgrades for the existing internal umpires area and changerooms. External stairs replaced and lockable access gates added. |
| Previous design | Revised design |
| The overall site design included: - access road changes to facilitate deliveries and drop-offs - accessible parking - bicycle parking hoops - tree removals to enable the proposed facilities and tennis court expansion along with a replanting plan for the precinct - general landscaping - renewed informal bocce court | The revised design includes the same treatments to the trees, landscaping and surrounds, although the detail is tailored to the revised design. The revised design requires the removal of 10 less trees than originally proposed and includes a comprehensive replanting program for the precinct. |
View the elements of the revised design
Click the hotspots to view the elements of the revised design
Swipe to see how the precinct is proposed to change
Review the tree replacement plan for the precinct
- White circles - existing trees to be retained
- Blue dashed circles - 39 existing trees proposed for removal including:
- 8 Low retention value trees
- 5 Medium to Low retention value trees
- 9 Medium retention value trees
- 15 Medium to High retention value trees
- 2 High retention value trees
- Please note: Retention value of trees is assessed based on whether the tree is native as well as the tree's height, health and significance
- Green circles - 35 new semi mature shade trees proposed for replanting including:
- 11 Kurrajong (Brachychiton acerifolius)
- 17 Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- 7 Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Have your say
Council is currently reviewing feedback on the revised design before we proceed to amend the planning permit and work to begin construction.
Where feasible and financially viable, suggested changes will be included before the revised design is finalised.
This process ensures we are aligned with our Statutory Planning processes as well as the principles and commitments outlined in Yarra City Council's Community Engagement Policy.
This consultation closed at 9am on Monday 25 November 2024.
Learn more about the previous consultation - April 2022
What we asked in 2022
We made changes to our initial design for reinvigorating the Brunswick Street Oval sporting and community facilities. These changes were needed to ensure upgrades to the historic grandstand meet heritage requirements, while still providing much-needed facilities for sporting clubs and the community.
We asked you to tell us what you thought about the design. We were also exploring options for site-specific public art, and we asked for your ideas.
You were able to share your feedback through the form below or at one of the in-person consultations at Brunswick Street Oval on:
- Saturday 23 April 2022, between 10.30am and 12pm
- Tuesday 26 April 2022, between 3pm and 4.30pm
The process so far
In early 2019 we spoke to the sporting clubs, community groups, local residents and other users of the Brunswick Street Oval facilities. You told us you want this much-loved corner of Edinburgh Gardens enhanced and updated, whilst maintaining its heritage.
We then asked for your feedback on a concept plan, which we developed based on the feedback we received from the community, as well as an analysis of the needs of the sporting clubs and community groups who use the facilities, both now and into the future.
What had changed within this previous design?
The previous concept plan proposed new community and sporting facilities as additions to the grandstand, but this did not meet heritage requirements.
This new proposal was to develop two new buildings: a sports pavilion for cricket and football to the west and a tennis and community room building to the north of the grandstand. This means there will be minimal impact on the exterior of the grandstand building, which is heritage listed.
The existing community room building adjacent to the grandstand was to be removed, restoring the prominence of the heritage grandstand in the landscape.
The proposed designs for the sports pavilion and tennis and community pavilion are two storeys, to ensure public open space is maximised.
Councillors considered your feedback at a council meeting on Tuesday 31 May 2022. Find out more about the meeting, and read the minutes, on our website.
See what was proposed
