Council is committed to providing safe, inclusive, and high-quality netball facilities for the growing Port Melbourne and netball community.

Netball is the highest participation sport for women and girls in Victoria and continues to grow. Current facilities do not meet demand and further gaps in provision will occur due to population increases.

This project also supports our Fair Access in Sport Policy, gender equity outcomes and broad community wellbeing.

This is a priority in Plan for Port Phillip with $5.25m allocated in the budget to deliver netball infrastructure. The project is supported by $2m in State Government funding.

After detailed feasibility studies and risk assessments, JL Murphy Reserve is one of the only viable locations for new netball courts in Port Melbourne.

JL Murphy Reserve offers integration with existing sports facilities and precinct planning.

Elder Smith Reserve was initially assessed for this project. However, after investigating further, Council hasn’t proceeded here due to major infrastructure risks and higher costs from the presence of underground services.

After detailed feasibility studies and risk assessments, JL Murphy Reserve is one of the only viable locations for new netball courts in Port Melbourne.

Elder Smith Reserve was initially assessed for this project. However, after investigating further, Council didn’t proceed here due to major infrastructure risks and higher costs.

After detailed feasibility studies and risk assessments, JL Murphy Reserve is one of the only viable locations for new netball courts in Port Melbourne.

Your feedback will help us decide:

• If the netball infrastructure should go ahead at JL Murphy Reserve.

• What additional amenity is required such as landscaping or greenery.

• Whether Council should consider exploring other recreation options in future financial years at spaces like Elder Smith Reserve. This will also need to align with the Public Spaces Strategy.

Council will review feedback and publish “what we heard” within 4 weeks of engagement closing.

If the project proceeds, design and development will begin mid-2026 with further engagement on concept designs forecasted for September 2026.

After that Council will make a final decision about the project. This is currently scheduled for late 2026.

JL Murphy Reserve is one of the only viable sites with the space to hold the new netball infrastructure. If this project does not proceed here, Council will continue exploring options (including Elder Smith Reserve) but it may potentially lead to the project being cancelled due to limited public space.

A Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) was conducted for this project to help understand the impacts to parking and traffic. The TIA showed new infrastructure could fit within the current road network without major upgrades or off-street parking expansion.

However, it forecasted local congestion and more pressure on parking may occur during peak periods, especially with the increased sports activity and future population growth from the Fishermans Bend urban renewal project.

It is anticipated that the surrounding streets would be able to accommodate additional car parking. No further off-street parking is planned at this stage.