NSW FOOTBALL 2020 INFRASTRUCTURE TO STRATEGY 2030 Football is the highest participated team sport in Australia according to Sport Australia’s AusPlay survey.
NSW is the largest football state in Australia with almost 400,000 registered participants. Football is the number one club sport for both adults and children in NSW and continues to grow each year.
To remain at the top of our game and to continue to support the growth and development of football at all levels, Football and our partners need to find innovative and sustainable ways in which to play and foster the game. Integral to the sport’s growth is the need to provide quality, welcoming and sustainable facilities that will meet the needs of football and the local communities in which it is played.
In 2014 Football NSW delivered an overarching Football Facilities Strategic Plan, which highlighted a number of gaps in historical planning and forecast a range of projections that were likely to exacerbate these gaps if left unaddressed. The Plan recommended a series of tools and resources that needed to be developed by football bodies in order to better support and improve the network of football facilities across NSW.
To support the future planning and evidence base around facility needs in NSW, Football NSW, Northern NSW Football and Capital Football commenced a detailed audit of every football venue in NSW and the ACT, including pitches, clubrooms, change rooms, match official amenities, lighting, spectator accommodation, car parking and other facility features. The audit was conducted in 2018 and included 980 unique venues used for football activities.
The data captured through this extensive audit provides the basis for developing the NSW Football Infrastructure Strategy.
In 2015, Football NSW and Northern NSW Football commissioned research into the broader economic, health and social benefits of football through its Community Impact Study. In 2018 this research was refreshed through the Community Impact of Football in New South Wales study. The review highlighted a 23% increase in the overall contribution football makes to the NSW community.
The NSW Football Infrastructure Strategy 2020-2030 will also be using industry shaping technology platforms to measure and monitor participation in football and project future demand for the game. Internationally recognised data management group ActiveXchange will lead this process, with industry specialist’s insideEDGE Sport and Leisure Planning delivering the strategy and associated football community and government stakeholder consultation.
The NSW Football Infrastructure Strategy 2020-2030 will be delivered before the end of 2019. AIM To use data driven planning methodologies and evidence to deliver an integrated State-wide football facility supply, demand and investment strategy that guides the provision of and investment in football facilities across NSW for the next 10 years (2020-2030). Utilise the supply data captured via the NSW Football Facility Audit to establish an existing information baseline of facility provision, condition and compliance with relevant Build on existing strategic standards. planning work previously Identify the respective conducted by FNSW, roles and responsibilities NNSWF, FFA, the NSW of stakeholders in facility State Government, Local development, investment Government and the and in preparation of facility broader football community standards. to establish an aligned vision for facility planning and investment. KEY OBJECTIVES
Assess the current and future demand for football Develop a strategic activities and associated framework for the planning player markets and identify and development of football any provision gaps in the infrastructure across projected future needs for metropolitan, regional and football facilities across NSW. rural areas of NSW.
Engage with football and government stakeholders in the development and endorsement of the Strategy. PROJECT OUTPUTS
• An agreed Strategy for the development of football infrastructure across NSW for the period 2020-2030.
• Independently analyse the data from the recent audit of community and National Premier League (NPL) football facilities in NSW to understand current facility provision, trends, factors restricting venue use and capacity and to identify priorities for improvement.
• Analyse the impact that participation (current and projected), population change and demographic characteristics will have on facility and infrastructure provision needs and requirements.
• Enable genuine engagement with football and government stakeholders in the development and endorsement of the Strategy.
• A prioritised implementation and investment plan for NSW State Government, with clear direction for football regions and associated local councils.
• Identify regional football facility priorities (for 26 identified regions) that include local government and football association input on supply and demand to guide future planning directions and local investment decisions.
• Develop a State-wide advocacy document that presents key investment messages and articulates why investment in football facilities is required. PROJECT PARTNERS & REACH
The NSW Football Infrastructure Strategy 2020-2030 will cover the geographical area of NSW, including all areas, regions and Associations managed by both Football NSW and Northern NSW Football. The ACT will not form part of the Strategy but may be subject to its own facility planning strategy at a later date.
The Strategy has been fully funded through Football NSW and Northern NSW, demonstrating our commitment to investing in the future of football across NSW.
Detailed engagement will be undertaken throughout the development of the Strategy, which will include consultation with: • Football Federation Australia • Neighbouring Football bodies – Capital Football, Football Victoria, Football Queensland • 26 Affiliated Football NSW and Northern NSW Football Associations • NSW Government – Office for Sport • NSW Government – Department of Education • NSW Local Government Authorities
Stakeholders and partners will be kept informed of project progress and opportunities for engagement via the NSW Football Facilities Website at footballfacilities.com.au TIMEFRAME
The NSW Football Infrastructure Strategy 2020-2030 is anticipated to take 12 months to develop, with a final adopted Strategy due by December 2019.
Over the January-March 2019 period, in advance of the upcoming winter football season, project consultant’s insideEDGE will be assessing the alignment required to guide strategic directions as well as analysing data captured through the NSW Football Facilities Audit in 2018.
It is anticipated that online surveys targeted to Football Associations will also be distributed over this period.
Data experts ActiveXchange are also undertaking an analysis of football participation across NSW and building a football demand platform that will be used to assess the sports future needs over the next 10 years.
The following schedule provides an overview of project timing.
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5
Draft State- Final State- Project Initiation Analysis & Scoping Supply, Demand & wide Football wide Football Needs Assessment Infrastucture Infrastucture Strategy Strategy
DECEMBER 2018 - AUGUST - NOVEMBER 2018 APRIL 2019 MAY - JULY 2019 NOVEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 For further information, please contact NSW Facilities & Advocacy Unit on 1300 213 771 or via email to [email protected]
Please visit the NSW Football Facilities Website for project updates and information.