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HUME CITY COUNCIL ATHLETICS SPORTS PLAN DRAFT PLAN │NOVEMBER 2015

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Page 1: Hume City Council Draft Athletics Sports Plan FINAL … · Hume City Council – DRAFT ATHLETICS SPORTS PLAN 2015 3 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT (PART A) Hume City Council’s Draft Athletics

H U M E C I T Y C O U N C I L

AT H L E T I C S S P O R T S P L A N D R A F T P L A N │ N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

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DEFINITIONS

Term Definition for the purpose of this plan

Organisation

Athletics Australia (AA) National governing body for the sport of athletics in Australia

Little Athletics Australia (LAA) Governing body for children's athletics in Australia

Athletics Victoria (AV) Peak governing body for the sport of Athletics in Victoria

Little Athletics Victoria (LAV) Peak athletics sporting body for junior athletes aged between 5 and 15 years in Victoria

Victorian Masters Athletics (VMA) Peak athletics sporting body for athletes aged over 30 years in Victoria

Victorian Athletics League (VAL) Organisation responsible for the running of athletics carnivals known as ‘Gifts’ across the state of Victoria

School Sports Victoria Organisation responsible for supporting teachers in the delivery of physical and sport education programs for Victorian school students

Local Government Authorities

(LGAs)

A local government established under the Local Government Act 1995

Metropolitan Planning Authority

(MPA)

Independent statutory body responsible for land use planning and infrastructure coordination in designated greenfield an urban renewal areas

Athletics

Athletics The sport of competing in track and field events, including running races and various competitions in jumping and throwing

Little Athletics Centre Combination of Little Athletics Clubs at one venue

Little Athletics Program for

Schools (LAPS)

Educational athletic program run by accredited coaches aimed at developing basic running, throwing and jumping skills

Recreational running Running to improve your health or running for enjoyment

Running group Group of recreational runners

Racewalking Long-distance athletic event requiring one foot must to be in contact with the ground at all times

AV Shield Inter-club competition focused on getting involved and having fun

AV Knockout Top ranked 60 and 32 athletes in each age group across two rounds of track and field competitions

Zone vs Zone Athletics Victoria inter-zone competition

Cross Country and Road Racing

(XCR)

Team-based, 9-event series, comprising of six individual races and three relay races, catering to all ages and abilities.

Run Safely at Night Casual running program facilitated by VMA and run under lights at numerous athletics tracks for community safety

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ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT (PART A)

Hume City Council’s Draft Athletics Sports Plan is delivered in two parts.

Part A – Hume City Council Draft Athletics Sports Plan 2015

Part A provides a summary of:

• Strategic themes, strategies and recommended future actions for athletics development in Hume City

• current and future athletics facility needs within Hume City, more specifically within each of the three Planning Areas (Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Sunbury)

• participation trends within the sport of athletics compared with broader sports participation

• participation trends in athletics (formal and informal) and the implications of these trends for Hume City

• key demographic projections and related implications for athletics in Hume City

• current and planned athletics track facility provision within Hume City

• proposed athletics track facility hierarchy for Hume City.

Part B – Research, Consultation and Key Findings Report

Part B is a separate report to this Plan and provides all background information and research collected during development of the Hume City Council Draft Athletics Sports Plan including:

• contextual overview

• detailed facility supply and demand analysis

• demographic and participation analysis

• consultation and benchmarking findings

• Hume City Council managed athletics facility inventory list

• facility components, associated costs (including ongoing maintenance) and factors Hume City Council will need to consider if constructing an additional synthetic athletics track in the future.

• Recommended directions for future activation and management of the Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Hume City Council Athletics Sports Plan has been developed to help guide Council’s future planning, provision, development and management of athletics facilities within Hume City. The Plan also seeks to identify and address key challenges facing local athletics clubs, including club and athletics development, participation and programming.

Following the recent athletics track facility development in Broadmeadows (John Ilhan Memorial Reserve) and the planned synthetic Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility at Craigieburn Park, Council and related athletics stakeholders have the opportunity to reinvigorate the sport of athletics within Hume and resurrect the recent downward curve in local organised athletics participation.

From a sport development and participation perspective, organised junior athletics membership within Hume City has declined by approximately 30% over the past five years. This can be attributed to a number of factors including demographic change, the level of service being provided at local little athletics clubs, facility access and/or condition or simply a shift in consumer preferences when considering sport, recreation and leisure pursuits.

The absence of a senior athletics club within Hume City may also be impacting on the ability of local little athletics clubs to retain members, as participants seek development opportunities at alternate clubs offering a pathway and easy transition from junior to senior athletics competition. In contrast, joining informal running groups and ‘recreational running’ is becoming increasingly popular, with society seeking less structured and more health and fitness orientated physical activity options. This trend presents a development opportunity for athletics through integration of less formalised competitions, programs and events into athletics clubs and venues.

The Hume City Council Athletics Sports Plan has identified four key strategic themes which will form the foundation and strategic direction for athletics development within the City over the coming years. These themes include:

• Facility provision

• Participation

• Athletics development

• Partnerships

A key objective of the Athletics Sports Plan was to also analyse Hume City’s future athletics infrastructure requirements and potential need for an additional synthetic track/s (and if required its location/s). Facility demand analysis, current participation rates and benchmark provision guidelines suggest following recent and planned facility developments at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve and Craigieburn Park, Hume City will have adequate athletics track facility provision for a minimum 20 years from 2015.

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Short term infrastructure related priorities for Council should be focused on the provision of sports field floodlighting at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve, continued planning for construction and activation of the Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility and implementing a track and supporting facility renewal and maintenance program for Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve.

Should future demand, forecast population growth or general development of the sport of athletics and its pathway within the City of Hume justify additional athletics infrastructure, Hume City Council’s Planning Area of Sunbury is the most suitable long term option for an additional synthetic athletics track.

The following pages provide a situational analysis of athletics within Hume City as well as recommended strategies and supporting actions to help guide future facility provision, participation growth, club development and sustainability of the sport of athletics in Hume City.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 7

1.1 Purpose and drivers ................................................................................................................ 7

1.2 Background and context ......................................................................................................... 8

1.3 Stakeholder and consultation process .................................................................................... 8

1.4 Project methodology ............................................................................................................. 10

2. PLANNING CONTEXT ............................................................................................................... 11

2.1 Athletics participation ............................................................................................................ 11

2.2 Demographics ....................................................................................................................... 12

2.3 Council planning .................................................................................................................... 13

2.4 Athletics peak sporting body planning .................................................................................. 13

2.5 Other planning documents .................................................................................................... 13

3. ATHLETICS IN VICTORIA ......................................................................................................... 14

3.1 Athletics Victoria .................................................................................................................... 14

3.2 Little Athletics Victoria ........................................................................................................... 14

3.3 Victorian Masters Athletics .................................................................................................... 16

3.4 Victorian Athletics League .................................................................................................... 16

3.5 Victorian Running Network ................................................................................................... 16

3.6 School athletics ..................................................................................................................... 16

4. ATHLETICS FACILITY PROVISION AND HIERARCHY .......................................................... 17

4.1 Athletics Victoria facility hierarchy ........................................................................................ 17

4.2 North West Metropolitan Melbourne current athletics track facility provision ....................... 18

4.3 Hume City current athletics track facility provision ............................................................... 18

4.4 Hume City future athletics track facility provision ................................................................. 24

4.5 Proposed Hume City future athletics track facility hierarchy ................................................ 26

4.6 LGA athletics track facility provision benchmarking ............................................................ 27

5. KEY FINDINGS .......................................................................................................................... 28

5.1 Facility provision .................................................................................................................... 29

5.2 Participation .......................................................................................................................... 30

5.3 Athletics development ........................................................................................................... 35

5.4 Partnerships .......................................................................................................................... 36

6. STRATEGIC THEMES ............................................................................................................... 37

7. ACTION PLAN ........................................................................................................................... 38

7.1 Facility provision .................................................................................................................... 38

7.2 Participation .......................................................................................................................... 38

7.3 Athletics development ........................................................................................................... 39

7.4 Partnerships .......................................................................................................................... 39

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose and drivers

The key objectives of the Athletics Sports Plan are to:

• Analyse the current and future athletics facility needs within Hume City, more specifically within each of the three Planning Areas (Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Sunbury).

• Report on participation trends within the sport of athletics compared with broader sports participation.

• Analyse participation trends in athletics and the implications of these trends for Hume City Council.

• Recommend a hierarchy of athletics facility provision within Hume City.

• Identify a list of notional facility components, associated costs (including ongoing maintenance) and factors Hume City Council would need to consider if constructing a second all-weather track in the future.

• Identify future users of the planned Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility (local athletics clubs, schools, fitness providers, non-athletics sports clubs, casual users etc.) and facility related individual stakeholder requirements.

• Provide direction relating to future Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility usage (local club allocation versus school usage, private hire and casual usage).

• Identify Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility partnership opportunities (e.g. adjacent new Regional Craigieburn Aquatics Centre).

• Align with the strategic direction of peak sporting bodies, in particular Little Athletics Victoria (LAV) and Athletics Victoria (AV).

Key drivers of the Athletics Sports Plan include:

• Hume City Leisure Strategy 2013-2018

• Forecast Hume City population growth

• Redeveloped John Ilhan Memorial Reserve including new grass athletics track

• Planned Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility at Craigieburn Park and strategies for its activation.

• Planned decommissioning of athletics facilities at Laura Douglas Reserve in Broadmeadows and Vic Foster Reserve in Craigieburn and relocation of athletics clubs to new facilities.

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1.2 Background and context

Hume City Council commissioned consultants insideEDGE Sport and Leisure Planning to develop an Athletics Sports Plan to guide the current and future provision of athletics facilities and general development of the sport of athletics within Hume City.

Hume City Council currently manage three athletics tracks throughout Hume, with facilities located in each of the Planning Areas of Broadmeadows, Sunbury and Craigieburn. All three facilities are grass track surfaces and provide a home venue for local Little Athletics Clubs Craigieburn, Hume and Sunbury. There is currently no senior athletics club located within Hume.

A new grass athletics track has recently been developed at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve in Broadmeadows, while the construction of the proposed Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility at Craigieburn Park is underway. The existing facility at Vic Foster Reserve in Craigieburn will no longer be used for athletics, with Craigieburn Little Athletics relocated to new and improved facilities at Craigieburn Park. Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve in Sunbury and supporting athletics facilities will continue to operate in their current format.

With significant forecast population growth and the landscape of athletics facilities within Hume City set to change, a coordinated approach to facility provision, development, management and programming along with overall athletics club and general sport development is required by Hume City Council and related athletics stakeholders.

1.3 Stakeholders and consultation process

As part of the research behind the Hume City Council Athletics Sports Plan, the following stakeholders were consulted in order to sample the range of perspectives across the local and regional athletics community.

• Hume City Council Officers

• Hume City Little Athletics Clubs (Hume, Craigieburn and Sunbury)

• School Sports Victoria (Northern and Western Region)

• Local Hume City and regional primary and secondary schools

• Athletics Victoria

• Little Athletics Victoria

• Neighbouring or comparable LGAs

• Synthetic sports surface industry experts

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Project consultation methodology undertaken with the previously listed stakeholders included:

• Project Steering Group meetings with Hume City Council

• Interactive workshop with key stakeholders including Hume, Sunbury and Craigieburn Little Athletics Clubs, Little Athletics Victoria, Athletics Victoria and School Sports Victoria

• Online School User Survey distributed via Hume City Council and School Sports Victoria’s Northern and Western Region Primary and Secondary School databases. 36 School Survey responses were received with a mixture of primary (23), secondary (9), and combined (4) schools completing the survey. Of the 36 completed surveys, 15 were from local Hume City schools and 21 from outside the municipality.

• Individual telephone interviews with Athletics Victoria and Little Athletics Victoria

• Individual telephone interviews or written correspondence with 10 neighbouring or comparable LGAs with regard to existing and planned athletics facility provision and management

• Telephone interview and written correspondence with synthetic sports surface industry experts.

A number of common themes and consistent messages were received from key stakeholders consulted throughout development of the Athletics Sports Plan, with several of the most prevalent themes listed below:

• Increasing the profile and community awareness of athletics provision within the City of Hume will bey to to ensuring future sustainability of the sport.

• Once Little Athletics participants are reaching their early teens, they are often leaving clubs within the City of Hume to find clubs with a higher standard of facility.

• Development of a senior athletics club within the Hume City Council would support the transition and pathway from junior athletics through to open age competition.

• Inadequate facility design, condition and supporting amenities along with existing facility location (hidden – lack of exposure) were considered by local athletics clubs as key barriers to developing the sport of athletics within the Hume City Council. It is envisaged the recently established facility at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve and the Regional Athletics Facility at Craigieburn Park will remedy this issue.

• Increasing the skillset of club volunteers through club development workshops and training sessions will enable clubs to operate more professionally and efficiently, ultimately providing a better service for the local community.

• Increased consumer demand for shorter, sharper, more engaging and varied athletics programming.

• School Sports Victoria along with primary and secondary schools within a regional catchment of the Hume City Council expressed a strong interest in future usage of the planned Craigieburn Park facility.

A detailed consultation schedule and summary of key findings is provided in Part B of

the Hume City Council Athletics Sports Plan - Research, Consultation and Key

Findings Report.

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1.4 Project methodology

Development of the Hume City Council Athletics Sports Plan commenced in March 2014, with the Final Draft Plan (Stage 4) completed in May 2015.

Stage 1

Project Establishment(March 2014)

Stage 2

Situational Analysis(April/May 2014)

Stage 3

Consultation and Needs Assessment

(June/July 2014)

Stage 4

Draft Recommendations and Reporting

(August-October 2014)

Stage 5

Final Recommendations and Reporting

(April/May 2015)

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2. PLANNING CONTEXT

2.1 Athletics participation

2.1.1 Junior athletics in Australia

Junior athletics participation rates in Australian athletics have risen from 77,500 in 2006 to 88,600 in 2012 (14% rise). Despite this rise in participation, athletics is ranked 10th out of 12 main stream sporting activities with swimming/diving, soccer and Australian Rules Football having the highest participation rates. From a gender participation perspective, junior athletics has an even spread of male (52%) and female (48%) junior representation.1

2.1.2 Senior athletics in Australia

The 2010 Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey examines the activities of persons aged 15 years and over for exercise, recreation or sport during the 12 months prior to the interview. For the purposes of this survey, participation means active ‘playing’ participation, and does not include coaching, refereeing, being a spectator or activities related to work, household chores or gardening duties.2 In terms of athletics participation, the survey identified that:

• 117,000 adults participated in athletics activities across the country (0.7% participation rate) in the 12 months leading up to the interview.

• The majority of athletics participation is in organised competitions and events, however non-organised and casual participation (e.g. Recreational Running) is becoming increasingly more prominent.

• Approximately 80% of participation is between the age cohorts of 15-24 years.

• The most common participation frequency is >104 times per year.3

2.1.3 Athletics in Victoria

In 2010 approximately 23,000 Victorians aged over 15 years reported taking part in organised or non-organised athletics activities. Participation was evenly spread between males and females with both genders recording approximately 11,500 participants.4 In 2012/13 Victoria had 4,697 registered athletics participants (7% increase from 2009/10), recording the third highest state participation rate behind Queensland and New South Wales. 5

During the 2012/13 season, LAV accounted for approximately 22% of national registrations (23,353). Victoria had the second largest registration base behind New South Wales.6

2.1.4 Athletics in Hume

There are currently three Little Athletics Clubs located within Hume City (Craigieburn, Hume and Broadmeadows). Hume City’s total Little Athletics participation numbers have dropped by just over 25% (461 to 331) from the 2008/09 season to the 2013/14 season. A noticeable decrease in participation levels occurred between the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons however overall participation rates have remained quite steady over the past five seasons with a 2.5% decrease in participation.

1 Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities Survey, Australia, Apr 2012 2 Source: www.ausport.gov.au/information/casro/ERASS 3 Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey, 2010 4 Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey, 2010 5 Athletics Victoria 2013 Annual Report 6 Little Athletics Victoria 2012/13 Annual Report

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2.2 Demographics

2.2.1 Regional population projections

Hume City currently has the second largest population of all surrounding LGAs including Moonee Valley, Melton, Mitchell, Brimbank, Whittlesea and Macedon. This trend is expected to continue to 2031, however instead of having the second largest population to Brimbank, the growth area of Whittlesea is projected to boast the largest population, followed by Hume City.

Hume City’s population is forecasted to increase by almost 50% by 2031, resulting in increased pressure on Council’s existing recreation facilities and services.

2.2.2 Municipal wide age cohort projected population growth

With a forecasted population of approximately 287,000 by 2031 (50% increase), Hume City will experience the largest percentage population growth in the age cohort of 55 years plus (88%). At the other end of the spectrum, Hume City will also see an increase in the 0-4 age cohort (65%) and 5-14 year age brackets (63%). The smallest percentage increase will be in the 15-34 year age cohort (47%).7 These figures indicate a strong demand for a mix of both passive recreation services and activities and informal leisure opportunities and facilities suitable for older adults as well as those appropriate for introductory sport and recreation and junior development programs.

2.2.3 Local area demographics

Hume City is broken down into suburbs which have been analysed to determine localised population growth. Steady population growth is expected across most suburbs with Mickleham/Kalkallo (2,147%), Greenvale (104%), Sunbury (77%), and Craigieburn (76%) expected to experience the most growth. 8

A coordinated approach to the future planning, development and implementation of recreation services and facilities will be required to ensure these growing communities continue to be appropriately serviced.

2.2.4 Athletics population

With the Little Athletics program being designed for children between the ages of 5-16 years and the majority of senior athletics participation falling within the age cohort of 15-24 years, the suburbs of Sunbury, Mickleham/Kalkallo, Craigieburn, Greenvale, Broadmeadows and Roxburgh Park are forecast to produce the highest number of athletics participants by 2036.

2.3 Council planning

7 Source: http://forecast.id.com.au/hume 8 Source: http://forecast.id.com.au/hume

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Preparation of the Hume City Council Athletics Sports Plan has been informed by and supports the following key Council planning documents:

• Hume City Council Plan 2013-2017

• Hume Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-17

• Hume City Leisure Strategy 2013-2018

• Hume City Open Space Strategy 2010-2015

• Hume Regional Aquatics and Sports Complex Business Case (2013)

• Hume All-Weather Athletics Track Feasibility Study (1999)

2.4 Athletics peak sporting body planning

The following peak athletics sporting body strategic planning documents have also informed development of the Athletics Sports Plan:

• Athletics Australia Strategic Plan (2013-2016)

• Athletics Victoria Strategic Plan (2011-2014)

• Little Athletics Australia Strategic Plan (2008-2013 – new plan being developed)

2.5 Other planning documents

• Artificial Grass for Sport Guide - Department of Planning and Community Development

• Planning for Community Infrastructure in Growth Areas (2008)

• Guide to Social Infrastructure Planning (2009)

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3. ATHLETICS IN VICTORIA

3.1 Athletics Victoria

Athletics Victoria (AV) is the peak governing body for the sport of Athletics in Victoria. AV currently represent close to 6,000 registered athletes, officials and coaches across 60 plus affiliated athletics clubs, utilising approximately 25 athletics tracks across Victoria.

Athletics Victoria is a Member Association of Athletics Australia, and works closely with Little Athletics Victoria, the Victorian Masters Association, the Victorian Athletic League and Victorian secondary schools.

AV conduct year-round competitions and events for athletes over 12 years of age and all levels of ability. Athletics competitions are traditionally run on weekends (predominantly Saturday afternoons) during the summer months with cross country and road racing (XCR) events conducted during the winter period. Below is a list of Athletics Victoria sanctioned current competition opportunities.9

Summer Winter

AV Shield Cross Country and Road Racing (XCR)

Zone vs Zone

AV Knockout

State Championships

3.2 Little Athletics Victoria

Little Athletics Victoria (LAV) has been established for junior athletes aged between 5 and 15 years. LAV’s mission is ‘To develop children of all abilities by promoting positive attitudes and a healthy lifestyle through family and community involvement in athletics activities’

Little Athletics is primarily a summer activity and generally runs from October through to mid/late March. Some Centres also conduct cross-country events during the winter months taking place during April to the end of July.

There are currently 103 Little Athletics Centres around Metropolitan and Regional Victoria. Each of these Centres conduct weekly activities at local venues and competitions on weekends. Below is a list of Little Athletics Victoria sanctioned championship opportunities which take place outside of individual Centre activity and competition schedules. 10

• State Relay Championships • State Multi-Event Championships • State Track and Field Championships • State Cross Country Championships • State Road Relay Championships

Both Athletics Victoria and Little Athletics Victoria provide national competitions and championship opportunities. Please refer to the definitions section of this report for more a more detailed description of the above mentioned athletics activities.

9 Source: http://athsvic.org.au/about/ 10 Source: http://www.lavic.com.au/

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The below diagram provides a visual representation of both Athletics Victoria and Little Athletics Victoria’s competition and pathway structure.

Source: Athletics Victoria and Little Athletics Victoria

Athletics Victoria(7 zones, 55 clubs, 4,697 2012/13

registered members)

Zones - Yellow, Red, White, Blue, Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong

Note: If Hume City Council were to develop a senior athletics club, it would sit

within the Yellow Zone, alongside clubs including Athletics Essendon, Brunswick Athletics Club, Coburg Harriers, Keilor St Bernards, Melbourne University, Western Athletics, Williamstown and Wyndham).

No existing senior athletics club in Hume City

Approximately 100 Athletics Victoria registered senior athletes, coaches and

officials currently reside within Hume City, travelling outside the municipality for

athletics training and competition.

Little Athletics Victoria(7 Regions, 103 Centres, 23,350 2012/13

registered members)

Northern Metro Region(11 Centres: 3,271 registered members –

Whittlesea City, Sunbury, Preston/Reservoir, Lancefield/Romsey, Kilmore and Districts, Kilmore, Hume,

Essendon, Diamond Valley, Craigieburn and Coburg)

Hume Little Athletics Club

(91 2013/14 members)

Craigieburn Little

Athletics Club

(80 2013/14 members

Sunbury Little

Athletics Club

(160 2013/14 members)

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3.3 Victorian Masters Athletics

Victorian Masters Athletics offers a range of athletic activities for men and women aged 30 and over. The philosophy of the Masters movement is participation, with Victoria boasting a membership of over one thousand, almost one third of Australia’s overall Masters membership base.

The Masters program offers opportunities for ‘beginners’ right through to elite athletes. Standards and performances are recorded in five-year age groups with Racewalking, Road and Track and Field competitions held throughout the year.11

3.4 Victorian Athletics league

The Victorian Athletic League (VAL) conduct athletic carnivals known as Gifts (historically called professional Athletics or Pro's) across the state of Victoria.

Gift races allow athletes of all abilities to compete in a fun, competitive and social environment. Each athlete is given a mark (handicap) based on their ability, giving them an equal opportunity to triumph in their chosen event.

All events include prize money. Prize money varies in each event and can range from $300 to $60,000.12

3.5 Victorian Running Network

The Victorian Running Network, supported by Athletics Victoria and Victorian State Government, connects the recreational running community with like-minded individuals and groups. Recreational running is a growing trend with individuals opting to move away from structured sporting competitions and engage in recreational running activities or join running groups to improve their overall health and fitness.13

3.6 School athletics

Little Athletics Victoria, Athletics Victoria and School Sports Victoria work collaboratively to coordinate athletics carnivals and events for local and regional primary and secondary schools. School Sports Victoria is made up of eight regions, which are then broken down into individual Region Divisions and Districts. Hume City is aligned with the Northern Metropolitan Region and sits within the Woodlands Division.

Outside of peak athletics sporting body and School Sports Victoria coordinated events, in-house school athletics carnivals, training and physical education classes are common athletics activities across both primary and senior schools.

11 Source: http://vicmastersaths.org.au/ 12 Source: http://www.val.org.au/ 13 Source: http://athsvic.org.au/services/victorian-running-network/

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4. ATHLETICS FACILITY PROVISION AND HIERARCHY

4.1 Athletics Victoria facility hierarchy

The below facility hierarchy model outlines Athletics Victoria’s infrastructure requirements for each facility hierarchy level as well as the recommended level of athletics training and/or competition.

Source: Athletics Victoria

Note: Little Athletics Victoria have no existing Facility Hierarchy Model

International / NationalInternational facilities require broadcast, quality lighting, grandstand seating for 5,000+, built in electronic timing systems, digital scoreboards, large function space and ideally should be positioned in a central location.

STATE / REGIONALState and Regional facilities require lighting suitable for the conducting of Shield / Night competition, seating for between 200 and 500 spectators, catering facilities and track and field configurations capable of hosting simultaneous events.

CLUBSClub facilities require lighting suitable for night training, however do not require the simultaneous functionality for multiple events.

SCHOOLSEvents competed within school complex with Athletics Victoria Officials appointed to oversee the running of competition along with local school’s personnel. Planned multi-school carnivals competed at larger venues subject to hire agreements and availability.

RECREATIONALDesignated Council managed parks and recreational running tracks within the general local area. Community organised fun runs/walks.

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4.2 North West Metropolitan Melbourne current athletics facility

provision

There are currently 16 known athletics tracks in the North West Metropolitan Melbourne Region. This region includes the LGA areas of Whittlesea, Hume, Melton, Wyndham, Darebin, Moreland, Moonee Valley, Brimbank Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Port Philip, Melbourne and Yarra City Councils.

Of the 16 known athletics tracks, six are natural grass tracks primarily servicing Little Athletics programs, with the other 10 being synthetic surface tracks accommodating a mixture of both junior and senior athletics training and competition. The map on page 15 provides a visual representation of these known athletics tracks across an approximate 100km distance, as well as their facility hierarchy level in accordance with Athletics Victoria’s Facility Hierarchy Model. For the purposes of the facility hierarchy map, Hume City’s Little Athletics tracks have been included in Athletics Victoria’s overarching hierarchy model, however Little Athletics Victoria have no existing hierarchy model hence classifications are not necessarily applicable to these sites.

4.3 Hume City current athletics facility provision

Hume City Council currently manage three athletics facilities within Hume. All three athletics tracks provide a grass surface and are the home base for local little athletics clubs Hume, Craigieburn and Sunbury. The three venues include:

• John Ilhan Memorial Reserve, Broadmeadows

• Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve, Sunbury

• Vic Foster Reserve, Craigieburn

A new grass athletics track facility has recently been established at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve in Broadmeadows, while planning continues for a regional synthetic athletics facility at Craigieburn Park in Craigieburn. Post development of the regional athletics facility in Craigieburn, the existing facility at Vic Foster Reserve will be decommissioned, with Craigieburn Little Athletics to be relocated to the new and improved athletics venue. The map on page 20 provides a visual representation of Hume City Council managed current and planned athletics track facilities.

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4.3.1 Sunbury Planning Area current athletics facilities

There is currently one athletics track located within the Sunbury Planning Area, Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve. Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve is a grass athletics track, located off Mitchells Lane in Sunbury.

Facility usage:

Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve is the home base of the Sunbury Little Athletics Club. Outside of Sunbury Little Athletics’ usage, the facility is also used by the Sunbury and District Obedience Dog Club and a number of local primary schools for athletics carnivals and training activities.

Facilities:

• Grass athletics track • Lane gates • Sports pavilion • Sheltered athlete and spectator shelters • Public toilets • Shot put throwing circle • High jump area • Hammer/discus throwing cage • Storage shed (2) • Long/triple jump pits (2) • Playground

Facility Hierarchy Level:

As a designated Little Athletics facility, Eric Boardman Reserve is not recognised in Athletics Victoria’s Facility Hierarchy Model.

Identified priority development opportunities:

• Top dress running track • Increase onsite storage • Provision of additional spectator and participant shelters • Regrading of surfaces adjacent to long jump pit number two • Increase power supply to inside of track to support event and competition audio

requirements

Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve, Sunbury

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4.3.2 Craigieburn Planning Area current athletics facilities

The Craigieburn Planning Area is currently serviced by one athletics facility, Vic Foster Reserve. Vic Foster Reserve is a grass athletics track, located off Pines Way in Craigieburn.

Facility usage:

Vic Foster Reserve is the home base of the Craigieburn Little Athletics Club. The Reserve also plays host to the Craigieburn Cricket Club and provides opportunities for local primary and secondary school sport and recreation usage.

Facilities:

• Long/triple jump pits (2) • Sports pavilion • Grass athletics track

Facility Hierarchy Level:

As a designated Little Athletics facility, Vic Foster Reserve is not recognised in Athletics Victoria’s Facility Hierarchy Model.

Identified priority development opportunities:

Due to the planned Craigieburn Regional Athletics facility development and decommissioning of athletics facilities at Vic Foster Reserve, no future development opportunities are recommended for this site.

Vic Foster Reserve, Craigieburn

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4.3.3 Broadmeadows Planning Area current athletics facilities

There is currently one athletics track located within the Broadmeadows Planning Area, John Ilhan Memorial Reserve. John Ilhan Memorial Reserve is a grass athletics track, located off Barry Road in Broadmeadows.

Facility usage:

John Ilhan Memorial Reserve is the home base of the Hume Little Athletics Club. In addition to providing a venue for Little Athletics training and competition the facility is also used by surrounding local schools.

Facilities:

• 400 meter x 8 lane grass running track • Synthetic rubber ‘D’ high jump, javelin and shot put area • 2 x synthetic long/triple jump runways and 4 x pits • Shot put throwing circles (3) • Discus cage • Shared pavilion • Equipment storage • Spectator shelter • 100 lux sports field floodlighting (to be installed late 2015).

Facility Hierarchy Level:

As a designated Little Athletics facility, John Ilhan Memorial Reserve is not recognised in Athletics Victoria’s Facility Hierarchy Model.

Identified future development opportunities:

• Installation of 100 lux sports field floodlighting

John Ilhan Memorial Reserve, Broadmeadows

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4.4 Hume City future athletics facility provision

4.4.1 Sunbury Planning Area planned future facility provision

There are currently no plans for any new athletics facility development within the Sunbury Planning Area. Hume City Council’s focus is on improving the existing track condition and supporting amenities at the Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve athletics facility.

Due to the Sunbury Planning Area’s high forecast population growth, there may be potential future demand for a synthetic, regional level athletics track. Development of a new athletics facility within the Sunbury Planning Area would require further detailed investigation by Hume City Council and athletics stakeholders. Should forecast future population growth and demand for a new or improved athletics facility warrant further infrastructure development, it is recommended the new facility be developed within a greenfield area within the Sunbury Planning Area growth corridor and replace the existing grass track facility at Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve.

4.4.2 Broadmeadows Planning Area planned future facility provision

Following the recent grass athletics track facility development at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve in Broadmeadows, athletics facility provision within the Broadmeadows Planning Area is considered adequate for the foreseeable future.

The future Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility will also provide additional access opportunities for Broadmeadows Planning Area residents.

John Ilhan Memorial

Reserve, 2015

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4.4.3 Craigieburn Planning Area planned future facility provision

The Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility will replace the existing grass track facility located at Vic Foster Reserve off Pines Way in Craigieburn. The new synthetic athletics track will be located at Craigieburn Park and serve as the new home venue of the Craigieburn Little Athletics Club.

Outside of local Hume City athletics club usage, the Regional Athletics Facility will provide opportunities for hosting official Athletics Victoria and Little Athletics Victoria competitions and events, School Sport Victoria District and Regional carnivals, in-house local and regional primary and secondary school carnivals, community events (e.g. Fun Runs, Relay for Life), informal community access, group fitness providers and general sports club training.

The Regional Athletics Facility will provide the Craigieburn Planning Area, Hume City and the wider region catchment with adequate athletics facility provision for the foreseeable future.

Athletics Sports Plan research identified the following additional key findings relating to the planned Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility.

• An opportunity exists to develop a senior athletics club within Hume City, located at the Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility. It is not anticipated that this would be required within the next 5+ years and would be based on a review of demand for this level of participation.

• ‘Hot spot’ mapping data (postcode of residence) highlights a large number of both junior and senior athletics members residing in the Craigieburn Planning Area, providing a potential ready-made catchment area for the planned new facility

• School survey responses identified demand and interest in using the planned new facility. In contrast, a number of schools have already become accustomed to and connected to existing non-Hume facilities (e.g. Moonee Valley Athletics Centre and Meadowglen International Athletics Track), hence promotion and easily accessible information regarding the new facility in Craigieburn will be important to generate interest in future facility usage.

• School Sport Victoria have a strong interest in future facility usage for regional and state level carnivals and competitions.

• Mitchell Shire envisage utilising the planned facility as their regional athletics venue

• Facility management, programming linkages and cross facility promotion opportunities exist between the planned athletics and adjacent aquatic facilities.

Craigieburn Regional

Athletics Centre

Concept Plan

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4.5 Proposed Hume City future athletics track facility hierarchy

The following proposed Hume City athletics track facility hierarchy outlines the suggested level of athletics competition to be held at each of Hume’s current and planned athletics track facilities.

The proposed facility hierarchy model has included provision for a potential synthetic athletics track facility in the Planning Area of Sunbury, should future demand and forecast population growth justify a higher level of athletics facility requirement.

The potential Sunbury synthetic athletics facility could replace or compliment the existing grass track facility at Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve, however if serving as a replacement it is not recommended it be at the same location as the existing grass track facility. It is recommended (if demand warrants an additional facility) the synthetic athletics facility be delivered in a greenfield area within the Sunbury growth corridor to enable the facility to meet the size requirements of a Regional/Local level athletic competition capable venue.

Proposed Hume City future athletics Facility Hierarchy Model

Craigieburn Regional Athletics FacilitySynthetic surface

(State/Regional level athletics competition capable)

John Ilhan Memorial ReserveGrass surface

(Local level Little Athletics and school competition capable)

Eric Boardman Memorial ReserveGrass surface

(Local level Little Athletics and school competition capable)

Sunbury Regional Athletics FacilitySynthetic surface

(Regional/Local level athletics competition capable)

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4.6 LGA athletics track facility provision benchmarking

Athletics track facility provision benchmarking was conducted against 10 neighbouring or comparable LGAs to Hume City Council.

Table 01: LGA Athletics Track Facility Provision

Key findings:

• Brimbank City Council, a comparable LGA with regard to current population, has the same athletics facility provision as that planned by Hume City Council (two grass and one synthetic track). The City of Casey, a larger LGA in terms of current and forecast population also has the same current provision as that planned by Hume City Council.

• Whittlesea City Council, a designated growth area like Hume City Council, has a current facility provision ratio of 1: 186,368 (Meadowglen International Athletics Track) and has no future plans nor demand at this point in time for any additional athletics track facilities, despite having a forecast population of 305,715 by 2031 (23,571 more than Hume City).

• Consultation with Melton City Council identified plans to develop a local level synthetic athletics track facility at Bridge Road Recreation Reserve in Melton South, with construction works to commence in 2015.

• Subject to establishment of the planned Regional Athletics Facility at Craigieburn Park, Hume City Council will meet Metropolitan Planning Authority provision guidelines.

• Following planned athletics track facility development, and in alignment with benchmark facility provision guidelines, Hume City will have adequate athletics track facility provision for a minimum 20 years from 2015. Should future demand and forecast population growth justify additional athletics infrastructure, Hume City Council’s Planning

LGA Number of known

athletics faciliies

Synthetic /

Grass

2014

Population

Current athletics track

provision ratio

Mitchell Shire Council 2 2 grass 39,079 1: 19,540

Macedon Ranges Shire Council 2 2 grass 41,860 1: 20,930

Hume City Council 3 3 grass 185,555 1: 61,852

Brimbank City Council 3 2 grass

1 synthetic

192,844 1: 64,281

City of Whitehorse 2 2 synthetic 164,766 1: 82,383

City of Casey 3 2 grass 1 1 syntheic

281,229 1: 93,743

Moonee Valley City Council 1 1 synthetic 118,340 1: 118,340

Melton City Council 1 1 grass 126,440 1: 126,440

Moreland City Council 1 1 synthetic 163,217 1: 163,217

Whittlesea City Council 1 1 synthetic 186,368 1: 186,368

Wyndham City Council 1 1 synthetic 192,337 1: 192,337

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Area of Sunbury is the most suitable long term option for a second all-weather synthetic athletics track.

5. KEY FINDINGS

This section of the report provides a summary of key findings obtained during development of the Hume City Council Draft Athletics Sports Plan. It highlights key data and information collected during project research, analysis, site inspections and stakeholder consultation. Key findings have been categorised into the following four headings.

1. Facility provision

2. Participation

3. Athletics development

4. Partnerships

1. Facility provision

2. Participation

3. Athletics development

4. Partnerships

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5.1 Facility provision

• Hume City’s current athletics track facility provision ratio of 1: 61,582 persons is the third highest ratio of neighbouring or comparable LGAs.

• Out of eight interviewed LGAs, Melton City Council is the only LGA (excluding Hume City Council) planning the development of a new athletics track facility (synthetic regional level facility due for construction 2015/16) in the near future.

• Both Hume and Craigieburn Little Athletics Clubs feel facility provision will be adequate for their clubs to further expand following current and planned athletics facility developments. The Sunbury Little Athletics Club expressed a need for facility improvements to enable the Club to continue to provide for and attract new members.

• From a facility hierarchy level, Hume City will be well positioned with varying levels of athletics facility provision. This even spread of provision will assist with the development pathway and transition from junior through to senior athletics participation.

• Subject to establishment of the planned Regional Athletics Facility at Craigieburn Park, Hume City Council will meet Metropolitan Planning Authority guidelines for regional (synthetic) athletics track provision.

• Athletics Victoria, Little Athletics Victoria, local little athletics clubs and the majority of schools surveyed felt following completion of the current works at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve and Craigieburn Park, Hume City will boast a more than adequate athletics track facility provision level.

‘Providing athletics facilities with the capacity to maximise

participation opportunities is vital to future growth and

80% of school survey

respondents believed

there would be an

adequate provision of

athletics facilities within

Hume City following

current and planned

facility developments in

Broadmeadows and

Craigieburn.

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sustainability of the sport, particularly junior athletics’

Little Athletics Victoria, 2014

5.2 Participation

5.2.1 Senior state and national athletics participation

• According to 2010 ERASS data, approximately 117,000 adults participated in athletics activities across the country at a participation rate of just 0.7%.

• Despite an overall 36% increase of registered Athletics Australia (AA) participants across the country from 2009/10 to the 2012/13 season, Victoria experienced a modest increase of only 7%.14

• Victoria’s 2012/13 total of 4,697 registered athletes sits well above Australia’s state average of 2,769 with only Queensland and New South Wales having larger registration totals.15

• The majority of athletics participation is via organised competitions, however non-organised or casual participation is also evident through initiatives such as Recreational Running.16

5.2.3 Junior state and national athletics participation

• During the 2012/13 season Little Athletics Australia (LAA) recorded a 14% increase in registered participants from 2009/10.17

• Little Athletics Victoria (LAV) recorded a 9% increase during the 2012/13 season from 2009/10 with 1,877 additional registered participants. Despite this increase, the growth of junior athletics in Victoria is lower than its state counterparts.18

14 Athletics Australia Annual Report 2012/13 15 Athletics Australia Annual Report 2012/13 16 Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey, 2010 17 Little Athletics Australia Annual Report 2012/13 18 Little Athletics Victoria 2012/13 Annual Report

Approximatley

80%

of national senior

athletics

participation is

between the ages

of 15-24 years.

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0

50

100

150

200

250

300

AthleticsEssendon

Brunswick CoburgHarriers

Keilor StBernards

MelbourneUniversity

SouthMelbourne

WesternAthletics

Williamstown WyndhamT&F

Membership Numbers

Athletics Victoria ‘Yellow Zone' Club Membership Numbers 2012-2014

2013-14 2012-13

• Little Athletics Victoria accounted for approximately 22% of Little Athletics Australia’s 2012/13 total registered participants. Victoria has the second largest registration base behind New South Wales.19

5.2.4 Regional Little Athletics participation

• Hume City’s three Little Athletics Clubs fall below the 2012/13 average membership number (297) for Little Athletics Clubs in the Northern Metropolitan Region. Based on 2012/13 data, Hume City Clubs account for approximately 11% of total membership in the Northern Metropolitan Region.20

• Victoria’s Northern Metropolitan Little Athletics Region (of which Hume City is aligned with) has the fourth highest membership total and accounts for approximately 14% of Victoria’s total Little Athletics Australia members.21

Table 02: Victorian Little Athletics Membership by Region 2012/13

Source: Little Athletics Victroia

5.2.6 Athletics Victoria ‘Yellow Zone’ athletics participation

Despite Hume City not currently having a senior athletics club, the below table provides an overview of senior athletics club membership trends (over the past two seasons) within Athletics Victoria’s Yellow Zone, the zone a senior Hume City athletics clubs would be affiliated with, should it be established.

Table 03: Athletics Victoria ‘Yellow Zone’ Membership

19 Little Athletics Australia Annual Report 2012/13 20 Little Athletics Victoria 2012/13 Annual Report 21 Little Athletics Victoria 2012/13 Annual Report

- 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

Eastern Metro

Gippsland

Northern Metro

Northern Country

Southern Metro

Western Country

Western Metro

Little Athletics Membership Numbers

Region

Victorian Little Athletics Membership by Region 2012/13

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The relationship between athletics track

location and membership numbers is

evident with the majority of members

residing in close proximity to existing

Hume City athletics track facilities.

Source: Athletics Victoria

5.2.7 Hume athletics participation

• Based on demographic forecasting and ERASS participation rates, athletics ranks seventh out of nine sports analysed with relation to participation levels, with a forecast number of 2,392 participants by 2024 (compared with 11,643 AFL).22

• Anecdotal evidence from Hume City Council’s Little Athletics Clubs suggested a drop off in athletics participation around the ages of 13 and 14, when children are looking to become more involved in mainstream team sports (e.g. AFL, soccer, cricket, netball and basketball).

• While no senior athletics club exists within Hume, statistical data provided by Athletics Victoria shows 103 Hume residents are affiliated with non-Hume athletics clubs, with the majority of these senior members residing in Craigieburn and Sunbury.

• Hume City’s total Little Athletics participation numbers have dropped by approximately 25% from the 2008/2009 season to the 2013/14 season. Local Little Athletics Clubs feel this is due mainly to facility condition and location and the changing demographics of the Hume community.

• Sunbury and Craigieburn Little Athletics Clubs have both experienced a 30% or greater decrease in participation levels since 2008/09 with Hume Little Athletics Centre’s membership remaining relatively stable.

5.2.8 Hume City athletics catchment

Little Athletics Victoria registered member distribution along with existing senior athletes residing within Hume (no existing senior club) has been analysed and mapped across the municipality. The maps provided on the following pages provide a visual representation of current (2013/14 season) junior and senior registered member catchments and distribution by residential postcode. Key findings regarding member distribution are:

• The highest proportion of senior members are located within the Craigieburn Planning Area.

• Similar to little athletics membership, the Planning Areas of Craigieburn and Sunbury have the highest number of senior members.

• The member distribution map clearly identifies the Sunbury and Craigieburn Planning Areas (highlighted in red and orange) as ‘little athletic centric’ areas. This is consistent with the high Sunbury Little Athletics Club membership numbers.

• The most prevalent gap in existing Little Athletics membership numbers is within the central area of Hume City.

22 insideEDGE Sport and Leisure Planning Participation Model utilising local area demograohics and ERASS participation rates

Based on future population projections

and ERASS participation rates for

individual age cohorts, Hume City is

forecast to experience a rise of

468 athletics participants in the next 10

years. 92% of participation will fall

between the ages of 5-24. .

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5.3 Athletics development

The following barriers and opportunities to increasing participation and general development of athletics were identified during an interactive stakeholder workshop with local Little Athletics Clubs, Little Athletics Victoria, Athletics Victoria and School Sports Victoria.

• Lack of parental involvement and volunteering

• Upon reaching their teens, Little Athletics participants are often leaving clubs within Hume City to find clubs outside of the municipality with a higher standard of athletics track and supporting facilities

• Lack of interest and promotion from schools is limiting the growth of Little Athletics, despite clubs attempts to promote various Little Athletics programs (e.g. LAPS).

• Lack of coordination and consistency between schools and Little Athletics programs is creating transitional issues.

• Competing sporting codes are starting to view athletics as a complimentary off-season sport which can help to improve and sustain sportspeople’s fitness during the summer months.

• Poor facility condition and supporting amenities along with existing facility location (hidden – lack of exposure) were considered by local clubs as key barriers to developing the sport of athletics within Hume City. It is anticipated this Athletics Sports Plan will address these issues.

• Improving the skillset of club volunteers (e.g. food handling accreditations, volunteer recruitment and retention, first aid, marketing, IT training, sponsorship) will enable clubs to operate more professionally and efficiently and ultimately provide a better service to the Hume community.

Increasing the profile and community awareness of athletics

provision within Hume City will be key to ensuring future

sustainability of the sport.

Consumer

demand for

shorter and

more varied

junior athletics

programming

is increasing

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5.4 Stakeholder partnerships

Opportunities exist to further develop the sport of athletics within Hume and optimise facility usage by improving existing and developing new partnerships with the below listed key stakeholders.

Stakeholder Partnership opportunities

Local primary and

secondary schools • Shared facility and equipment usage

• Promotion of local athletics clubs and facilities

• Little Athletics Program for Schools (LAPS) programming

School Sports Victoria • Programming of school competitions and events at Hume City Council managed athletics facilities

Little Athletics Victoria • Programming, competitions and sport development pathways

Athletics Victoria • Programming, competitions and the establishment of a senior athletics club within Hume City

Running Network Victoria • Recreational running programs and running groups

Victorian Masters Athletics • Programming and community running programs (e.g. ‘Run Safely at Night’)

Victorian Athletics League • Programming of athletics carnivals at Hume City athletics facilities

Little Athletics Clubs • Collaborative approach to club development and promotion. E.g. club development workshops and involvement of clubs at Council community events, festivals and seminars

Local sporting clubs • Cross club promotion e.g. football club encouraging players to involve themselves in athletics activities during the off-season

Commercial fitness

providers • Activation of Council athletics facilities, in particular future

Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility

Craigieburn Regional

Aquatics Centre • Facility management, programming linkages and cross

facility promotion

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ST1 - FACILITY PROVISIONAim: Provide well planned, high quality and well maitained athletics facilities, supporting amenities and equipment.

1.1 Provide an appropriate distribution of accessible community athletics facilities throughout Hume City to cater for forecast population growth.

1.2 Ensure Council managed athletics facilities are developed and maintained in accordance with peak athletics sporting body standards.

ST2 - PARTICIPATIONAim: Increase overall athletics participation levels within Hume City.

2.1 In partnership with peak athletics sporting bodies, local athletics clubs and related stakeholders, seek to increase participation levels in organised athletics competition and programming.

2.2 Increase casual and informal community participation in athletics related activities.

ST3 - ATHLETICS DEVELOPMENTAim: Increase the profile, management and development of the sport of athletics within Hume City.

3.1 In partnership with peak athletics sporting bodies, local clubs and related athletics stakeholders,seek to increase the profile of Athletics within Hume City.

3.2 Increase the skillset and capacity of local athletics club volunteers and officials.3.3. Following athletics facility development at Craigieburn Park, investigate the establishment of a

senior athletics club to improve junior through to senior development pathways.

ST4 - PARTNERSHIPSAim: Improve existing and develop new athletics stakeholder partnerships.

4.1 Develop stronger partnerships with peak Victorian athletics sporting bodies.4.2 Seek to establish or build upon existing partnerships with key Hume City Council managed athletics

facility users including School Sports Victoria, local primay and secondary school, local athletics clubs and commercial group fitness providers.

6. STRATEGIC THEMES

In order to achieve Hume City Council objectives of ‘Fostering a community which is active and healthy’ (Hume City Council Plan 2013-2017), ‘Supporting the provision of infrastructure that encourages physical activity (Hume Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-17) and key actions of the Hume City Leisure Strategy (2013-2018), four strategic themes, supporting aims, strategies and actions have been developed from project research, site investigations, stakeholder consultation and analysis of issues raised through development of the Athletics Sports Plan.

They provide Hume City Council and local athletics stakeholders with the necessary direction to plan, identify and allocate resources towards the improvement of existing and development of new athletics facilities as well as future growth and sustainability of athletics throughout Hume City.

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7. ACTION PLAN

7.1 FACILITY PROVISION 7.2 PARTICIPATION

No. Action Proposed

Timeframe

No. Action Proposed

Timeframe

7.1.1

Continue planning for the Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility construction in consultation with Athletics Victoria, Little Athletics Victoria and Victorian Masters Athletics.

Opening 2016

7.2.1

Ensure existing and planned Hume City athletics facilities are well designed, appealing and accessible to attract future prospective athletics members.

Ongoing

7.1.2

Following completion of Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility works, decommission existing athletics facilities at Vic Foster Reserve.

2015-2016

7.2.2

Provide training opportunities for athletics club volunteers, specifically targeted at attracting and engaging juniors.

Annually

7.1.3

Develop a facility maintenance and renewal program for each of Hume City’s current and future athletics facilities, highlighting Council and Club facility maintenance and renewal responsibilities.

2015-2016

7.2.3

Encourage clubs to contact local primary and secondary schools to see if information about the club/upcoming events can be incorporated into school newsletters.

Ongoing

7.1.4

In consultation with the Sunbury Little Athletics Club, address track surface condition and supporting facility/equipment improvement works at Eric Boardman Memorial Reserve.

2015-2016

7.2.4

Provide opportunity for local athletics clubs to promote activities, events and competitions on Hume City Council’s website and/or publications.

Ongoing

7.1.5

Allocate an annual track facility maintenance/equipment purchase budget line and advocate for a recurring capital works budget for major athletics track facility improvements.

Ongoing

7.2.5

Encourage Hume City athletics clubs to approach alternate sporting codes and related clubs and promote the benefits of engagging in athletics activities during the off-season.

Ongoing

7.1.6

Ensure athletics track design and supporting facilities enable optimum usage (e.g. adequate number of long jump pits/high jump areas).

Ongoing

7.2.6

In conjunction with peak athletics sporting bodies, investigate initiatives to increase female and CALD participation in local athletics.

Ongoing

7.1.7

Ensure Hume City Council managed athletics facility suitability and safety via scheduled facility condition audits.

Ongoing

7.2.7

In conjunction with Hume City Little Athletics Clubs and LAV, promote the LAPS program to local Hume primary schools.

Ongoing

7.1.8

Investigate opportunities to include supporting recreation facilities (e.g. outdoor fitness equipment) to increase facility usage during low peak periods.

Ongoing

7.2.8

Conduct or support informal athletics activities and events such as local Fun Runs or the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life event.

Annually

7.1.9

Continue to monitor Hume City athletics track facility provision requirements in line with forecast population growth. And consider this over the next 5 year period.

Ongoing

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7.3 ATHLETICS DEVELOPMENT 7.4 PARTNERSHIPS

No. Action Proposed

Timeframe

No. Action Proposed

Timeframe

7.3.1

In conjunction with Athletics Victoria, Little Athletics Victoria and Victoria Masters Athletics, seek to provide a pathway and fluent transition from junior athletics programs through to open age competition and Masters athletics.

Ongoing

7.4.1

Improve existing and develop new partnerships with key athletics stakeholders including Athletics Victoria, Little Athletics Victoria, Victorian Masters Athletics, Victorian Athletics League Victorian Running Network, School Sports Victoria and local athletics clubs through biennial Council facilitated forums.

Biennial

7.3.2

With support from Athletics Victoria, investigate the feasibility of establishing a senior athletics club at the planned Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility.

2017 onwards

7.4.2

Maximise current and planned athletics track facility usage through increased engagemnet with commercial group fitness providers.

2015 onwards

7.3.3

Advocate with Athletics Victoria, Little Athletics Victoria, Victorian Masters Athletics and the Victorian Athletics League for the hosting of peak sporting body sanctioned competitions and events at the Craigieburn Regional Athletics Facility.

2017 onwards

7.4.3

Identify and investigate opportunities for cross-facility management, usage and programming with adjacent Craigieburn Regional Aquatics Centre.

2017 onwards

7.3.4

Increase the skillset and capacity of Hume City Little Athletics Club volunteers and officials through club development programs and training opportunities.

Ongoing

7.3.5

Increase the profile of athletics within Hume City via athletics facility and club promotion through Council communication channels and events.

Ongoing

7.3.6

Encourage Hume City Little Athletics Clubs to work closely with Little Athletics Victoria, including attendance at LAV coordinated club development conferences (e.g. Biannual ‘Centrefest’ and annual ‘Minifest’ conference) and greater use of online resources.

Ongoing

7.3.7

Ensure Hume City managed athletics track and supporting facilities, equipment and amenities enable effective athletics programming and competition opportunities.

Ongoing

7.3.8

Promote and encourage recreational athletics participation through community events (e.g. Fun Runs, Relay for Life, Get Active Programs) and recreational running programs such as the Highlands ParkRun in Craigieburn or the Victorian Masters Athletics ‘Run Safely Tonight’ initiative.

Ongoing

7.3.9

Promote all year round usage of Hume City athletics facilities and increase participation opportunities through support of winter Cross Country and Road Racing (XCR) programs.

Ongoing

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