2023 community engagement outcomes

Community engagement was undertaken between 14 June and 10 July 2023.

Findings from the community engagement were presented in a Council report in September 2023.

During this period 259 people viewed the Your Say project page and 152 people responded to the online survey.

The majority (67 per cent) of people responding to the survey supported the proposed change to the Community Land Management Plan for Frank Smith Park to allow low impact sport. These results were consistent with the previous engagement undertaken on the use of Frank Smith Park Oval for organised sport.

Survey respondents who supported the proposal noted the need for more sporting fields in the area and wanting to support local sporting clubs.

Those who did not support the proposal sited concerns relating to the impact on other users of the park, impact on the natural environment and wildlife habitat and increased vehicles and related parking issues.

2022 community engagement outcomes

Community engagement was undertaken between 21 April and 06 June 2022.

The findings from community engagement were presented in a report to Council on 18 October 2022.

The key findings were:

  • Frank Smith Park is highly valued by the local community and visitors for its role in supporting primary school sport, as a space for active and passive recreation and for its natural amenity and connection to nature.
  • The majority of the 879 respondents to the community engagement survey support the use of Frank Smith Park for increased sport in the future.
  • Detailed analysis of the responses confirms support for increased sport were not dominated by sports club members and that a notable number of people that frequent the park for passive recreation support an increase in usage for sport.
  • The community consultation confirmed that the major considerations when planning for increased sport at Frank Smith Park are access and parking, impacts on the natural environment and the impacts of sporting infrastructure.

This engagement was undertaken following a report presented to Council in February 2022. At that time Council approved staff undertaking further research and analysis, including community engagement on the future use of Frank Smith Park oval.