Matthews Reserve Upgrade 2023-25

Matthews Reserve (on the corner of Struan Avenue and Moore Street) is an approximately 3,500 sqm park located near the northern boundary of City of Prospect. (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Location of Matthews Reserve from Open Space Strategy

As per the Open Space Strategy's predictions, Matthews Reserve was scheduled for an upgrade. A budget has now been allocated in the 2023-24 financial year for planning, design, and community consultation for the upgrade.

The funding for this project will be sourced from a specific budget proposal allocated for construction purposes. Construction is subject to future budget considerations and Council approval as set out in the Annual Business Plan and Budget.

Any park furniture, play equipment, pathways and services that are worthy of retention and have not reached their end-of-life will be retained. Existing trees that are healthy and don’t meet Council’s strict criteria for removal, will be retained. Some garden beds and vegetation will be retained, depending on community feedback and the new design of the park. Other feedback from this community consultation may also inform what will be retained.

Any park furniture and play equipment that has reached its end-of-life will be removed. Some vegetation may be removed depending on community feedback and existing conditions.

Park furniture and equipment is recycled where possible, including stripping various components for recycling where appropriate.

Trees will be retained wherever possible. Trees that are dead or dying and meet Council’s strict removal criteria may be removed.

The consultation will influence the various components that will be installed as part of the upgrade, based on the way the community uses the space (eg. more lawn area, or more park furniture, accessibility of tennis courts, or improved safety, etc). Note that the tennis courts and associated building will remain.

The feedback from Round 1 community consultation will be summarised in an engagement report for Council and will inform the draft concept plan. Feedback from Round 2 community consultation will once again be summarised in an engagement report for Council and will inform the finalised concept plan for the reserve.

Construction is subject to future budget considerations and Council approval as set out in the Annual Business Plan and Budget.

The current budget allocated from the Annual Business Plan and Budget 2023-24 for the planning and design of the Matthews Reserve upgrade is $60,000. Construction is subject to future budget considerations and Council approval as set out in the Annual Business Plan and Budget.

Round 1 of community consultation will be conducted in late 2023 to understand the current usage of the park and gather insights into what the community desires as part of the upgrade. This feedback will contribute to shaping the draft concept plan. Round 2 of community consultation will involve engaging with the community regarding the draft concept plan to ensure its alignment with residents' expectations.