"I love the design especially that it is accommodating for all genders and needs." – Sportsground user
After two rounds of community consultation, we have finalised the design for the Willsmere Park pavilion upgrade.
Construction is expected to start in January 2024 and to be completed by mid-2025.
You can find updates on this project on our website's Willsmere Park pavilion renewal page.
About the upgrade
Willsmere Park in Kew East is an important community sport and recreational space. The existing pavilion is in poor condition and doesn’t meet the needs of the community or sports clubs, including Kew Cricket Club and East Kew Football Club.
We are upgrading the facilities in the existing pavilion building, including the changerooms and public toilet. We are also proposing to build a new fit-for-purpose, single-storey building next to the existing pavilion. The upgraded pavilion and new pavilion will improve accessibility and better meet the needs of the community.
This project is in line with our Development and Funding of Community Pavilions - Sport and Recreation Policy and our Boroondara Community Plan 2021-2031 page.
About the consultation and what we heard
We thank everyone who took the time to consider the designs and share their feedback.
Initial consultation
In November and December 2022, we shared a draft design for this pavilion renewal with the community for feedback.
Support for the draft design was mixed. Of the 89 responses:
- 37% said they were supportive of the design
- 37% said they were not supportive of the design
- 14% provided mixed feedback about the design
- 12% provided neutral feedback about the design
Parts of the proposed design the community liked the most included:
- inclusive and accessible spaces
- the overall look and feel of the design materials that complement the surrounding area
- the extra car parking spaces.
Around 27% of people who gave feedback said they were concerned about the proposed location of the new pavilion. This was because it would hide the playground and some of the green open space from street view.
Comments included:
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“While I welcome an improvement to the local facility and am not opposed to an upgrade, I very strongly believe that there is an alternate, better way of doing this whilst being sensitive to the area, its residents and the landscape character.” – Nearby resident
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“Additional car parking is good and much needed. It's great that you have taken accessibility of the new facility into account.” – Sportsground user
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“Love the idea, me and all of my clubmates are exceedingly grateful for the dedication put into the design and the proposed plan for the build.” – Sportsground user
Alternative design for new pavilion
In April and May 2023 we consulted our community on an alternative design, which we developed in response to their feedback.
The alternative design included the same spaces as the initial design but shifted the new pavilion’s location further to the western side of the existing pavilion.
We heard from 29 people:
- 36% were supportive
- 36% were not supportive
- 18% provided mixed feedback
- 10% provided neutral feedback
Comments included:
- “Pavilion design is good with a smaller footprint.”
- “This plan is an improvement and ties in better.”
- “Looks good - seems to include everything required and by staying same height as current pavilion it doesn’t impact neighbours’ views.”
- “Well thought through and aesthetically pleasing.”
The final design
For more information, see our website's Willsmere Park pavilion renewal page.
Artist impression of the new pavilion design
Floor plan
Select the hotspots to learn more
Site plan
To minimise visual impact, the height of the new building is proposed to match the height of the existing building. We will ensure a natural look and feel, using an organic colour palette and sustainable building materials to tie in with the surroundings.
Site plan showing the height of new and existing buildings
