Frank Smith Park at Coromandel Valley is located in the City of Onkaparinga and forms part of the boundary with City of Mitcham. It is well used by the local community and the oval is currently used for junior soccer on Saturday mornings in the winter months, and starting in 2022 was extended to Sundays.

On 15th February 2022, Council gave in-principle support for Frank Smith Park to be used for organised sport, in order to allow stakeholders to seek external funding for playing surface upgrades. At that time Council approved staff undertaking further research and analysis, including community engagement on the future use of Frank Smith Park oval. Further details can be found in the report presented to Council.

Understanding and balancing the needs of all users is an important consideration when planning for future use of our open space and sports facilities. To inform our ongoing planning for sport in this district, in May and June 2022 we undertook engagement to understand community views on the potential future increased use of the turf playing space at Frank Smith Park for organised sport.

In October 2022 a report on the outcomes of community engagement were presented to Council and agreement was given to undertaken further research and investigation on the potential to use Frank Smith Park oval for further low impact sport.

In April 2023 the Strategic Directions Committee approved community consultation on amending the Community Land Management Plan classification of the oval area of Frank Smith Park in Coromandel Valley.

Community engagement on changing the Community Land Management Plan for Frank Smith Park was undertaken in June and July 2023.

Council made a decision to amend the Community Land Management Plan to allow continued use of Frank Smith Park Oval for organised sport in September 2023.

Amending the classification of the oval area from ‘Developed Reserve’ to ‘Sportsground’ in our Community Land Management Plan formalises existing use and allows for increased use for low impact organised sports. The rest of Frank Smith Park will remain ‘Developed Reserve’. High impact sport or supporting infrastructure such as clubrooms is not proposed or being considered for the park.

A Sportsground in council’s Sportsground Community Land Management Plan is defined as an area providing for structured, result focused, competitive recreation involving physical activity. Sporting activities include both training and competition and may be undertaken either individually or as a team.

Management of the park will be implemented through conditioned permits, while ensuring that no changes or additional infrastructure are proposed.

You can find out more about Community Land Management Plan designations and how council plans to mitigate the concerns raised in the previous consultation in the Frequently Asked Questions document.