The popular Hillcrest Reserve in Bayswater is set to receive a much-needed facelift after the City of Bayswater council unanimously approved $11.3 million worth of upgrades at its April 28 meeting. The council opted for a staged redevelopment rather than a more expensive $20 million option, striking a balance between delivering improvements and managing costs.
What the Upgrades Include
The long-awaited works will deliver a major renewal of the ageing Coode Street public asset, which is home to the Bayswater Blues and Bayswater Morley District Cricket Club, as well as several other sporting groups and the wider community. The upgrade will focus on improving existing infrastructure, including refurbished clubrooms and changerooms, upgraded toilets and storage, new LED sports lighting to increase night-time use, improved parking and pedestrian access, safer connections, enhanced spectator areas and scoreboards, refreshed playgrounds, more shade and seating, barbecue facilities, exercise equipment, dog-friendly amenities and upgraded cricket nets.
Staged Approach Praised
At the council meeting, Councillor Cale Black said the staged approach struck the right balance between delivering upgrades and managing costs while reflecting strong support from clubs and stakeholders. “I’m pleased to support this motion for us tonight; it’s great to see a lot of clubs supporting this as well as through our deputations process last week,” he said. “I think what’s being presented to council is an appropriate approach, especially when we consider a staged approach as well.”
He said improved lighting was a key priority, particularly during winter when limited daylight restricted training. “In winter when it comes to clubs training down there, it does get a bit difficult with the sun setting and lower Hillcrest in particular without having appropriate lighting does restrict that usage of that reserve,” Cr Black said. “So I think having those lighting improvements prioritised as part of this process would be a fantastic approach.”
Public Access Concerns Addressed
Cr Black said residents had concerns about a proposed 1.2-metre fence along Coode Street, but it would not limit general access outside of organised sporting use. “Although there is a 1.2m fence cited on the western side of the current option two plan, that doesn’t mean that public access is restricted outside of the booked times for sport,” he said. The reserve remains a popular space for dog walkers and the broader community, and ongoing consultation will be critical as the project progresses.
Minor Improvements Not Forgotten
Deputy Mayor Elli Petersen-Pik said smaller community requests, such as additional bins and seating identified during consultation, should not be delayed while the broader redevelopment was funded. “Some of the feedback that residents mentioned as part of the survey were about very minor improvements to the reserve when it comes to more benches, bins, etc,” he said. While basketball courts were not included in the approved plan, they could still be considered in future stages. The council was told a petition from residents would trigger a report to it, enabling elected members to decide whether to include courts.
Funding and Timeline
The city has not yet allocated full funding for the project and will instead pursue a mix of external grants and staged delivery through future budgets. The redevelopment is expected to be completed over multiple years.
