Following a six week public consultation period, Manningham Council has adopted the Mullum Mullum Reserve Management Plan at the Council meeting held Tuesday 30 September 2014.

The key objectives and actions contained in the Plan have been determined through extensive consultation and community feedback.

A key action in the plan is the construction of a multi-use highball stadium that will house five courts and seating for up to 500 spectators, and provide an additional 235 car parks throughout the reserve.

Manningham Mayor Cr Jim Grivokostopoulos said the stadium will help meet the growing demand for court space for a range of sports including basketball, netball, gymnastics, badminton and table tennis.

“It will go a long way in closing the shortfall of 15 multi-use courts in Manningham as well as freeing up valuable space at our other highball stadiums,” he said.

Local sporting clubs have welcomed recommendations in the management plan in particular the development of the highball stadium, which will allow them to increase participation in a range of sports.

Currently demand from clubs to access the City’s 33 highball courts is at a point where it is outstripping supply.

The Warrandyte Basketball Association is operating at capacity at their home stadium at Anderson Creek Primary School. Its 106 teams comprising in excess of 1,000 members have to split their competitions and training at nine stadiums including three outside of Manningham.

Park Orchards ‘Steelers’ Basketball Club is also struggling to keep up with demand for junior basketball and also has to travel outside of the municipality to find court space.

Both are supporting Council’s #LiveHealthyManningham advocacy campaign, which is pushing for the State Government to contribute funding towards the highball stadium. To support the campaign go to What Matters Manningham.

The management plan also proposes improvements to the existing hockey, bowls and tennis facilities, improved pedestrian and cycling access, and general landscaping.

A high priority action is to finalise the design for the highball stadium in preparation for the submission of a planning permit later this year.

The Mullum Mullum Reserve Management Plan can be viewed online. Hard copies may be obtained by contacting Council’s Landscape and Leisure Unit on 9840 9468.