Ashley Park Recreation Reserve revitalisation

• Construction of two competition-standard soccer pitches:
• • one synthetic grass
  • one natural turf
• LED sports lighting to support training and matches
• Supporting infrastructure including:
  • fencing and ball-catching nets
  • coaches’ and officials’ boxes.

• A multipurpose community pavilion for local clubs and community groups
• A playground for children
• A multipurpose ball court for informal recreation.

• Picnic areas and shelters
• Drinking fountains and bins
• Public toilets
• A new car park
• Community barbecue area.

• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)-compliant pathways
• Lighting throughout the reserve to improve safety and accessibility.

The Ashley Park Recreation Reserve revitalisation represents a significant investment in the local community.

The project will:

• Support increased participation in soccer, particularly for women and girls
• Provide additional capacity for clubs in Doreen, Mernda and South Morang, helping to reduce waiting lists
• Create opportunities for both organised sport and informal recreation
• Deliver a space for residents to meet, connect and celebrate community life
• Promote healthier, more active lifestyles.

Due to the presence of grey kangaroos at Ashley Park, Council has engaged an external consultant to complete a kangaroo management plan.

This plan will consider kangaroo behaviour and migration patterns when determining how best to manage the population before, during and after construction to ensure they are well cared for at all times. 

Increased traffic and parking demand resulting from the Ashley Park redevelopment has been considered through traffic assessments undertaken during the feasibility and concept design phases.

Mitigation measures include an off-street car park accessed from Adoquin Street, internal footpaths, and connections to the surrounding pedestrian network to support walking and cycling and reduce impacts on local amenity.

Following completion, Council officers will monitor on-street parking in surrounding areas and implement additional controls, particularly at intersections, if required to maintain safety and traffic flow.

The proposed footpath network will connect to the existing east–west path south of the site, improving walking and cycling access to Ashley Park Primary School and the Orchard Park Community and Early Learning Centre, and strengthening links to local activity centres.

The car park location is proposed off Adoquin Street, a collector road, to utilise its higher traffic capacity and minimise impacts on local residential streets.

Positioning the car park to the north also maximises open green space to the south, creating a safer and more pleasant environment around the playground and picnic area, with reduced traffic noise and improved amenity.

Construction impacts will be managed in accordance with the project’s construction contract and all relevant standards and regulations.

The contractor is required to minimise noise, dust and disruption to surrounding properties, including implementing dust suppression measures and preventing pollution of nearby waterways.

Works will be limited to approved hours (weekdays and Saturdays only), with no work on Sundays, public holidays or over the Christmas - New Year period. Any works outside these hours will require Council approval and will only occur in exceptional circumstances (e.g. emergencies or safety risks).

Following community consultation, the design has been updated to better reflect local priorities.

Open space has been increased by reducing built elements such as fitness equipment and a full-size sports court, particularly in the southern and eastern areas of the site.

The playground has been designed with nature-based play in mind, responding to community interest in more natural play experiences.

A multipurpose half-court has been retained and shifted to the south of the natural pitch to provide flexible space for youth activities, while balancing the desire to preserve open green space.

Noise and lighting impacts will be managed in accordance with Council’s Sports Club User Guide, with pitch use limited to 4pm–9pm on weekdays and 8am–9pm on weekends.

LED lighting will be used to minimise light spill to surrounding properties. Modern LED sports field floodlighting systems provide superior optical control, enabling light to be precisely directed where it is needed while reducing light spill to levels comparable with typical street lighting.

Tree removal has been minimised in the Ashley Park design. Only one significant river red gum and a small number of seedling trees near the water easement are proposed for removal. All removed trees will be replaced on site in accordance with Council’s tree offset program.

The construction contract clearly identifies approved removals and requires protection of all retained trees and vegetation through designated exclusion zones and temporary fencing. No trees may be removed unless specified in the construction drawings or approved by Council.