Thank you to Parks and Leisure Australia VIC/TAS for delivering a thought-provoking 2025 Region Conference this week.
Key takeaways from Otium team members Bruce Mackay and Josie MacCartney included:
- Parks and leisure centres are critical public health and economic infrastructure that should be embedded in Council Plans.
- Leisure Contracts can help drive equity for Councils when aligned with measurable targets for staff diversity, inclusion of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and programs for women.
- Strong local partnerships—with MPs, schools, community leaders, and health organisations—are essential to delivering responsive, inclusive infrastructure.
- Councils play a vital role in ensuring developers deliver what communities actually need.
- Emerging evidence indicates that targeted investment in Community Sports Infrastructure in areas of higher disadvantage can lead to greater participation benefits.
- Multicultural community leaders should be supported and recognised for sharing Council information in-language and online.
Congratulations also to Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre on receiving Community Facility of the Year at the PLA Awards of Excellence. We’re proud to have supported Darebin City Council throughout this impactful project, from the initial feasibility to business case development and as part of the design team.