3. CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT 3.1. CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN Extensive consultation was conducted between August 2020 and March 2021. This included surveys, workshops and interviews with the community members, facility management committees, sport clubs, state and regional sports organisations, schools, Council officers and elected councillors, Members of Parliament, neighbouring Councils and other identified key stakeholders.
3.2. COMMUNITY SURVEY From the 147 responses to the community survey, the following key findings were identified: ˗ Providing more indoor sports courts for various codes ˗ Increasing the availability/accessibility of facilities ˗ Ensuring sport facilities are fit-for-purpose.
3.3. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES Overall, there was a general consensus that the current management arrangements implemented by Council for Lake Macquarie sporting infrastructure is fundamentally working well.
parking. Other key themes identified by Management Committees through the consultation process included: ˗ There is generally considered adequate access to playing areas for competitions, however there is increasing pressure on facilities to meet the increasing demand for training activities. This could be resolved by increasing the number of fields with lighting and/or exploring partnerships with schools. ˗ Increase universally accessible change rooms to meet increased demand of female participation. ˗ Routine maintenance of playing surfaces, surrounding areas, and rectifying vandalism in a timely manner is an opportunity for further improvement. ˗ Opportunity to improve communication and collaboration between Management Committees and Council. ˗ Increase current shortage of multi-use indoor facilities. ˗ Further use for technology for bookings (including tennis) and environmentally sustainable design.
Survey results indicated the most common barriers preventing additional sports facility use was inadequate lighting, followed by quality of surfaces and ancillary infrastructure such amenities and
11 LAKE MACQUARIE SPORTS STRATEGY 2021-2031 | APRIL 2021
