Council Agenda 26/11/18 7.8 North East Link - Bulleen Park Abstract This report provides an update on the North East Link Authority (NELA) Bulleen Park land use planning project. It seeks Council support for an initial concept design for the Bulleen Park land use plan which incorporates the Boroondara Tennis Centre (BTC) and the 18-hole Freeway Golf Course (FGC). See Attachment 1 for an aerial image showing the project study area. NELA has initiated the study for the Bulleen Park area and has included the BTC and FGC in the project scope. Officers understand the aim of the project is to ensure no sporting club or facility is worse off as a result of the construction and operation of the North East Link (NEL). NELA has advised it intends to finalise the project by early 2019 for inclusion as an appendix in the NEL Environment Effects Statement (EES). NELA has conducted initial consultation about the project, with a workshop held at the Veneto Club on 8 August 2018. The workshop was attended by sporting clubs impacted by the NEL and Council representatives from Boroondara and Manningham. Officers understand NELA staff have also been meeting with sporting clubs and facility operators on an individual basis to discuss the project. Within a limited timeframe, Boroondara officers have prepared high-level concept plans for the FGC and BTC to be considered in the Bulleen Park land use planning study (Attachments 2 and 3). The plans respond to the impact of the NEL on several holes of the FGC by relocating the BTC to the same location and extending the FGC to land north of the current course edge located in Manningham. It is relevant to note seven FGC holes are already located on land within the City of Manningham. The concept plans retain both facilities and at least the level of service currently offered by the BTC and FGC. There is a key difference between the two concept plans. The plan at Attachment 2 includes a sporting oval to the north of the BTC site. This has been included in recognition of the loss of Bulleen Oval 1, currently located within the City of Manningham, which will be displaced by the NEL works. The plan at Attachment 3 incorporates an urban forest in place of the sporting oval to protect and improve the biodiversity values in the area and along the important Koonung Creek and Yarra River corridors. Officers consider the concept plans provide a good outcome for the Boroondara and broader community. Both the BTC and FGC are very well used by residents of Boroondara, Manningham, Banyule and beyond. Both are quality public facilities and provide important community focussed services for the region, particularly those Councils and residents impacted by the NEL. Officers recommend both concepts be formally put forward to NELA for its consideration in developing a land use plan for Bulleen Park. Further information is included in Confidential Attachment 4. Given their high-level nature, the plans will need further investigation and refinement as part of the planning process NELA is undertaking. City of Boroondara 683 Council Agenda 26/11/18 It is recognised the land within which the FGC would expand in both concept plans is currently open space within Manningham and is used by the Yarra Bowmen archery club and Doncaster Aeromodellers club. Officers are conscious of the very significant negative impacts of the NEL and have been seeking to work with Manningham and NELA to explore new opportunities for open space within the City of Manningham should the FGC extend into existing Manningham land. In this way, Manningham could potentially deliver more open space than is currently available to its community for sport and recreation, resulting in a mutually beneficial outcome for the Boroondara and Manningham communities. Council officers have met with NELA and Manningham officers, both together and separately, on several occasions to discuss the project. NELA has written to Council requesting a formal Council position about Council facilities that need to be included in the land use planning project. The City of Manningham has publically indicated it does not support extension of the FGC north of its current site, as indicated on the Boroondara-prepared concept plans. Confidential information is contained in Attachments 4 and 5, as circulated in the confidential section of the agenda attachments, in accordance with Section 89(2) of the Local Government Act 1989, as the information relates to proposed developments and premature disclosure of the information could be prejudicial to the interests of Council or other persons. This item has been included in the public agenda to facilitate transparency and accountability in Council’s decision making. If discussion of the confidential information in the attachments to this report is required in order for Council to make a decision, this item will be deferred to the confidential section of the agenda. City of Boroondara 684 Council Agenda 26/11/18 Officers' recommendation That Council resolve to: 1. Support the concept design options for the Bulleen Park land use plan as shown in Attachment 2 and Attachment 3 as Council’s preferred options for the Bulleen Park land use planning study incorporating the 23-court Boroondara Tennis Centre and the 18 hole, par 68, Freeway Golf Course. 2. Provide the concept design options to the North East Link Authority for its consideration as part of the Bulleen Park land use project, noting further investigation and refinement will be required to confirm detailed elements of the plans. 3. Notify the following stakeholders in writing of the Council resolution: i. Premier of Victoria; ii. Minister for Roads and Road Safety and the North East Link Project Minister (or equivalent); iii. Minister for Sport (or equivalent); iv. Leader of the Opposition; v. Shadow Minister for Roads and Infrastructure (or equivalent); vi. Shadow Minister for Sport (or equivalent); vii. Manningham City Council Mayor and CEO; viii. Mr. Craig Tiley, CEO Tennis Australia; ix. Mr. Matthew Kennedy, CEO Tennis Victoria; x. Mr. Stephen Pitt, CEO Golf Australia; xi. Mr. Simon Brookhouse, CEO Golf Victoria; xii. Mr. Warren Maher, Director Maher’s Tennis Management Services; xiii. Mr. Sean Gammon, Director Freeway Golf Pro Shop; xiv. Mr. Bruce Bourke and Ms. Barbara Morrison, Presidents Camberwell Golf Club; and xv. Ms. Judith Voce, President Harp Golf Club. City of Boroondara 685 Council Agenda 26/11/18 Responsible director: Bruce Dobson Environment & Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose This report has been prepared to: Provide an update on the North East Link Authority (NELA) Bulleen Park land use planning project; and Seek support for concept designs for the Bulleen Park land use plan which incorporate the Boroondara Tennis Centre (BTC) and the 18-hole Freeway Golf Course (FGC). 2. Policy implications and relevance to community plan and council plan This report is consistent with the Council Plan 2017-21 and the Boroondara Community Plan 2017-27, in particular the following strategic objectives: Community services and facilities are high quality, inclusive and meet a variety of needs now and into the future. Inviting and well-utilised community parks and green spaces. Ensure that ethical, financial and socially responsible decision making reflect community needs and are based on principles of accountability, transparency, responsiveness and consultation. 3. Background Impact of NEL on BTC and FGC The NEL impacts significantly on the community, including at the Bulleen Road interchange. Project designs show the removal of the BTC, to be replaced by a new park and ride facility, and several holes of the FGC removed. While the BTC and FGC are owned and operated by Boroondara or its contractors, they are both significant quality facilities that are widely used by the broader community well beyond Boroondara itself. Over 50,000 rounds of golf are played each year at FGC. The multi-award winning BTC is one of Melbourne’s premier access tennis facilities available for public use. It was awarded Most Outstanding Tennis Club at the 2017 Newcombe Medal Australian Tennis Awards. Removing the BTC and reducing the size of the FGC would have a detrimental impact on recreation opportunities for the local community, including both Boroondara and Manningham residents. Bulleen Park land use planning project NELA has initiated a land use planning study for the Bulleen Park area, including the BTC and FGC. Officers understand the aim of the project is to ensure no sporting club or facility is worse off as a result of the construction and operation of the North East Link (NEL). NELA hosted an initial community workshop with Council representatives from Boroondara and Manningham and sporting clubs in the precinct on Wednesday 8 August 2018 at the Veneto Club. Officers understand NELA staff have also been meeting with sporting clubs and facility operators on an individual basis to discuss the project. City of Boroondara 686 Council Agenda 26/11/18 Council officers have met with NELA and Manningham officers, both together and separately, on several occasions to discuss the project. NELA has written to Council requesting a formal Council position about Council facilities that need to be included in the project. NELA has advised it intends to finalise the Bulleen Park land use plan by early 2019 for inclusion as an appendix in the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the NEL. 4. Outline of key issues/options Boroondara officer concept designs Prior to the notification by NELA of its intent to undertake the Bulleen Park land use planning project, Council officers, with the assistance of specialist consultants, began developing high-level concept designs to explore how the BTC and FGC facilities and service offerings might be retained for the benefit of the Boroondara and broader community.