Project update - February 2026

We’re still committed to delivering safe, inclusive and high‑quality facilities to meet the growing needs of netball within Port Phillip but site restrictions at Elder Smith Reserve have prompted investigation of alternative locations. JL Murphy Reserve has since been identified as the most suitable location for the new netball facilities.

Proposed facilities include:
  • four netball courts
  • court lighting
  • pavilion with change rooms, toilets, storage and more
  • seating, drinking fountains, fencing and bike racks.

Learn more and provide feedback

We’d love to hear how you currently use JL Murphy Reserve and your thoughts on the proposed new netball facilities.

This is a great opportunity to support improved active recreation spaces in the precinct, and we’d love you to take a look and share your thoughts.

Your input will help guide us to deliver netball facilities that support both sport participation and wider community access to the reserve.

  • JL Murphy Reserve netball courts - project page

    Share your thoughts about our proposal to install new outdoor netball courts in Port Melbourne

    Find out more 

September 2023: Council undertook community engagement over February and March 2023.

Your feedback helped shape the Elder Smith Netball Courts and Pavilion. You can read the Elder Smith Reserve Netball Facility Community Engagement Summary Report here.

Councils passed the following at the 6 September Council Meeting:

  • Endorses progressing the project with the proposed design for Elder Smith Netball Courts and Pavilion.
  • Approves additional funding of $1.7m (excluding GST) for project costs to deliver Courts and Pavilion.
  • Approves additional funding for discretionary items;
    • Notes the funding of the additional request will be mainly from a drawdown on the open space contribution reserve.
    • Solar panels and battery. Cost $180,000. To be considered further, subject to costing and available budget, with a final report to be presented to Council.
    • Scoreboards. Cost: $80,000.
    • Seating outside the courts (on-court seating is included). Cost: $20,000.

Please see here the full Council Report and the final design.

In November 2018, State Government announced Election Commitment funding for $2M for new netball facilities for Port Melbourne, which would support the Port Melbourne Netball Club (PMNC). Comprising 450 members, the PMNC has outgrown its current facilities at RF Julier Reserve which consist of two (2) netball courts and an ageing pavilion.

An assessment of JL Murphy Reserve was initially undertaken, however, this site was not deemed viable due to a number of constraints including potential impacts to Fisherman’s Bend water retention, the limited passive open space at the reserve and the development of the new neighbouring state secondary school.

RF Julier Reserve was subsequently assessed as the potential site due to it being the existing home for the Port Melbourne Netball Club. Further investigations outlined constraints of this site including lack of available space for additional courts and larger pavilion, along with potential impacts to neighbourhood character and amenity.