Kew Football Club proposed expanding Victoria Park South Oval to provide a ground that can be used to host women’s football, as endorsed by the Victorian Amateur Football League (VAFA).

We consulted with our community, over 2 rounds of consultation, and based on their support will move ahead with extending and improving the oval.

Read more below on the consultation outcomes and what’s planned for 2024.

About the oval extension

The ground extension will cater for matches for additional levels of junior, men’s and women’s matches, also supporting increased female participation in football.

Kew Football Club received a $250,000 grant from the Australian Government's Department of Health to support the oval extension.

Female participation in Australian Rules football continues to rise, with the number of Boroondara women in the VAFA more than doubling since 2017.

We asked our community for feedback during 2 phases of consultation:

Stage 1 consultation

In July 2021, we invited you to have your say on Kew Football Club’s proposal to extend the boundary of the Victoria Park South Oval.

The majority of community feedback was supportive. Of the 250 responses we received:

• 92% were supportive of the south oval extension
• 6% were not supportive
• 1% were unsure.

Stage 2 consultation

Following support from the local community and sports clubs, we worked with Kew Football Club to review the design in more detail. We found opportunities to improve the space around the oval, as well as overcome some constraints of the earlier design.

From July to August 2022, we invited feedback on the updated design for the south oval extension.

Of the 93 responses we received:

• 93% were supportive of the south oval extension
• 4% were not supportive
• 3% provided neutral responses.

Feedback included:

What happens next

After commencing planning for the oval extension, we identified an opportunity to combine this with upcoming surface renewal works. These combined works are expected to commence in late 2024.

As the oval will be closed for the duration of both works, completing the extension at the same time as the surface renewal will minimise the total period the south oval will be closed. This will also allow us to reopen the oval as soon as possible.

More details about the south oval renewal and extension works will be provided closer to works commencing later in 2024.

Regular scheduled training and matches will be re-allocated to alternative sportsgrounds during the works. The north oval will still be open while works are underway at the south oval.

Oval extension upgrades

The oval extension component of the project will involve:

• moving one oval lighting pole
• removing 2 small trees and replacing these with new trees at a different location
• replacing the existing bluestone retaining wall with a one-metre high retaining wall that’s approximately 160 metres long
• renewing player benches and fencing around the oval extension area
• relocating the gate at the south end of the oval slightly east next to the vehicle access gate on Adeney Avenue.

There will still be a walking path along the west side of the oval along the road that leads to the small car park.