Fields of Play: Building partnerships for sustainable sport and recreation facilities forum

For local government and sport

The NSW State Plan sets a target of increasing the number of people participating in sport and recreation by 10% by 2016. With around four million people participating in some form of sport or physical activity annually, the NSW Government encourages opportunities which foster the use of parks, sport and recreational facilities.

Numerous strategies and actions support this goal, including improving the planning and coordination of all levels of government and sport.

The sustainability and adequacy of sportsgrounds and sporting facilities is an ongoing issue for every local government area, sporting organisation and the wider community.

This Forum facilitates communication between sport and Local Government.

• What will be covered?
• Who should attend?
• What will the forum achieve?
• Date and program schedule
• How to register
• Further information

What will be covered?

The Fields of Play forum is an opportunity to network, communicate and share ideas on working together for a sustainable future for community sport and recreation facilities.

Highlights for the day include sessions on:

• Season creep
  - Managing the increased demand on facilities when playing seasons go longer and overlap
  - What solutions are there to address season creep?
• The right mix and quality of facilities
  – How to meet the needs/expectations of sport and the community
  – What strategies are there to address overuse?
• Creating winning partnerships
  – New approaches to multi use of facilities
  – Ideas on innovative facility management

Who should attend?

The Fields of Play Forum will provide Local Government professionals involved in the strategic development and management of sport facilities with a valuable information sharing and networking opportunity with sport representatives.

Representatives from major sporting organisations will also attend, including AFL, Netball, Tennis, Basketball, Touch Football, OZTAG, Football and Cricket.

Facilitated by NSW Sport and Recreation, it’s a ‘must attend’ event for delegates interested in making the most of their sports facilities.

What will the forum achieve?

• Enhance communication between Local Government and sport.
• Enhance networks and build relationships.
• Improve Local Government understanding of sport requirements.
• Improve sporting organisation understanding of Local Government processes and resources.

Date and program schedule

SCHEDULE: Thursday 6 August 2009

Time	Session description	Detail	Presenter(s)
8am - 9am	Registration - tea and coffee on arrival
9am - 9.30am	Forum Welcome and Official Opening	Welcome to attendees Welcome to Country Welcome and Opening of Forum	MC – Henny Oldenhove   TBC
9.30am - 9.50am	Scene Setting Season Creep: Balancing Everyone’s Needs	Sport Presentation (SSO to club level) LGA Presentation (ground availability and maintenance)	Jim Forrest, President, Football NSW Dana Spence, President, PLA NSW
9.50 am - 10.20am	Morning tea and networking
10.25am - 11.45am	Workshops	Season Creep: Balancing everyone’s needs	Claire Scott, Rockdale City Council Andrew Robinson, Penrith City Council
11.50am - 12.10pm	Scene Setting Facility Standards: Understanding and Aligning Expectations	Sport Presentation LGA Presentation	Carolyn Campbell, General Manager, Netball NSW Steve Donovan and Eddie Rogers, Blacktown City Council
12.15pm - 1.15pm	Lunch and networking
1.20pm – 2.40pm	Workshops	Facility Standards: Understanding and aligning expectations	Claire Scott, Rockdale City Council Andrew Robinson, Penrith City Council
2.45pm - 3.15pm	Afternoon tea and networking
3.20pm - 3.25pm	Introduction to Winning Partnerships: Ideas for Successful Facilities	Introduction to Session	Dr Phil Hamdorf, Director, Policy and Strategy, NSW Sport and Recreation
3.25pm - 4.20pm	Presentation of Winning Partnerships: Ideas for Successful Facilities	Rockdale LGA – new arrangements with sports organisations Multi Sport Whole of Community Sport Modifications Lindfield Bowling Club/Soccer	Michelle Poepjes, Rockdale City Council Dean Russell, NSW Touch John Martin, Basketball NSW Jim Forrest, Football NSW Lindfield Football Club – Danny Hurwitz/Philip Killen
4.20pm - 4.40pm	Closing	Wrap up and where to from here?	MC – Henny Oldenhove
4.40pm - 5.40pm	Networking opportunity

How to register

Late registrations will be accepted. Contact Liz Daykin at liz.daykin@communities.nsw.gov.au or 9006 3814.

Further information

If you have any questions or require further information about the Fields of Play forum, please contact us on (02) 9006-3700.

Key details