MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have endorsed a draft Somerville Recreation Reserve master plan, paving the way for much-anticipated improvements to the community sporting hub.
The endorsement was approved unanimously at the 14 October council meeting.
Over the years, clubs have collaborated with the council as well as state and federal governments to explore the creation of a community sporting hub at the reserve.
In December 2022, the initiative received a boost with $250,000 in state government funding through the Local Community Sport and Recreation Projects Program. The funds were earmarked for the construction of new cricket nets and the development of a master plan for the reserve, with no council funding required.
The cricket nets were completed in August last year while work on the master plan began the following month. The shire also appointed sport and recreation consultants Simon Leisure to draft the plan, which included detailed research, site analysis, and extensive consultation with key user groups, the local community, and internal council teams.
By April 2025, further stakeholder meetings were held to better understand the site and its unique challenges. In addition, two pop-up consultation events – one at the reserve and another at the Somerville Recreation Centre – alongside an online survey, were conducted to gather broad community input.
According to a shire report, the draft master plan addresses several key issues:
- Formal sealed parking will be provided, with options for informal overflow parking.
- A new two-storey pavilion is proposed to serve football, cricket, and netball, offering improved amenities and social spaces.
- The cypress hedge along Jones Rd will be removed and replaced with new plantings to enhance accessibility and parking for all users, including netball clubs.
- One of the existing three netball courts will be removed to create two compliant courts aligned with council standards, improving accessibility and pavilion integration.
- The relocated pavilion will allow for the oval to be widened, meeting Australian Football League standards and council’s sports capacity plan.
- Sealed paths will connect the north and south of the Reserve, improving access for the community.
The draft master plan will be placed on public exhibition from 5 November to 3 December.
Speaking at the council meeting, Cr Michael Stephens said the plans “highlight a major step forward for the Somerville sporting and recreation future”.
“Thanks to funding from the community sports and recreation projects program with no cost to the council, this had already delivered new cricket nets and plans for major upgrades for the Jones St site,” he said.
“This masterplan creates a sporting precinct plan that caters for netball, football and cricket needs now and into the future. Through consultation with user groups, residents and internal teams, our sporting team has created a plan that balances practical, accessible and long-term growth.
“Key improvements include a new modern two-storey pavilion that brings football, cricket and netball together under one roof with better amenities and social space.”
Cr Bruce Ranken echoed this sentiment, saying it was a “strong example of our strategic and community-led infrastructure planning designed to make Somerville’s sporting precinct more accessible and inclusive, and future proof”.
First published in the Western Port News – 29 October 2025
