The Feasibility Study and Business Case confirms there is a strategic case for developing the proposed Bayview Secondary College Sport Precinct. The concept plans for the proposed precinct and its community sports facilities include:

• An 8,000m2 (approx) indoor sports hall with four full-sized multi-sport indoor courts, including a show court area with capacity for 500 to 1,000 spectators and incorporates:
  • a high-performance gym for athlete training and use as a group fitness space
  • a community sports pavilion that provides club facilities and amenities to service the outdoor fields
  • training and briefing rooms with a flexible design that can be configured as small or large rooms
• Three outdoor multi-sport playing fields comprising:
  • a stand-alone oval with a turf cricket pitch that can be used for cricket and other oval-based sports
  • a second, multi-use oval, capable of being configured as either a full-sized oval for cricket or AFL, or two full sized rectangular pitches for soccer touch football or rugby
  • a separate rectangular pitch for junior and youth soccer or field sports training
• Four outdoor multi-use hard-courts for netball, basketball, tennis and other sports.
• Pathways and pedestrian connections, landscaping with shaded areas, seating and drink stations, car parking and public amenities.

A cost estimate has been prepared by an independent quantity surveyor. The estimated total project cost in 2024 is $59,929,846 (ex. GST). The total cost is likely to increase over time.

Funding contributions from Council, as well as Tasmanian and/or Australian governments would be required to build and operate the precinct.

The Tasmanian Government has already committed $8million to the project in the 2023-24 State Budget, however to complete the development, funding from the Tasmanian and/or Australian governments would be required to make the project a reality.

Staging options will be explored to deliver the project over multiple years, with priorities to be determined in consultation with the School, DECYP and other stakeholders.

The precinct has been identified by state sporting associations as an important ingredient in strengthening athlete talent development pathways, as well as facilitating regional and state-based events in Greater Hobart.

The precinct will deliver significant social, health and economic benefits to the City of Clarence and through both its construction and operation. This will include attracting events and visitors to the region.

Detailed planning for future sports facilities by Clarence City Council has confirmed that the facilities provided at Bayview Secondary College will be critical to Council being able to provide facilities that meet demand for community sport and recreation in Clarence in the short, medium and long-term.

Clarence’s growing population is fuelling participation in organised indoor and outdoor sports. The Clarence population will grow to approximately 70,836 by 2042. Clarence also has a high proportion (54.9%) of the community within the most active age groups between 5 and 49 years that is driving participation demand in organised sports.

Clarence’s current sports facilities are at capacity. Existing sporting facilities including sports fields and courts have reached capacity within the region (except for gymnastics), with many facilities no longer being fit for purpose and capable of meeting the needs of female and junior participants.

There is a need for a contemporary multi-purpose facility that is accessible and inclusive, follows principles of universal design, and provides additional playing surfaces and indoor courts and other required facilities such as storage, multi-use fields and inclusive and DDA compliant facilities.

The precinct will cater for:

• A growing need of Bayview Secondary College, with over 330 students currently and student enrolments expected to increase with the population growth in the area
• Community sport, which is seen increasing participation levels across the surrounding suburbs
• Community programs and events through partnerships with community interest groups like Mission Australia and PCYC.

Development of the concept and Business Case for the Bayview Secondary College Sports Precinct has been a joint effort between Clarence City Council, the Tasmanian Government (including the Department for Education, Children and Young People) and stakeholders from across the sports and wider communities.

Clarence City Council has prepared the Feasibility Study and Business Case. If the precinct is built, the project will be a partnership between Council and DECYP.

The proposed Bayview Secondary College Sporting Precinct includes the following facilities.

• Indoor Sports Hall: Four full-sized multi-sport indoor courts, including a show court area with capacity for 500 to 1000 spectators, including:
• Stadium Front of House: Reception, Administration, Kiosk, Change Rooms, First Aid Room, and public amenities.
• High performance gym: For gym and group fitness spaces.
• Training and briefing rooms: A flexible design that can be configured as small or large rooms.
• Community sports pavilion: To provide club facilities and amenities to service outdoor sports fields and courts that integrates with stadium and relationship to outdoor sports fields and courts).
• Three multi-sports playing fields: For Australian Rules football, cricket, soccer and touch football / rugby - one oval configured with two rectangular pitches plus a stand alone oval and stand alone rectangular pitch.
• 4 outdoor multi-sports courts for tennis and netball
• Cricket nets to service main cricket oval with turf pitches
• Car parking area with 220 car spaces: Including disabled car spaces, motorcycle spaces, bicycle hooks / racks and an overflow area
• Pedestrian connections: Pedestrian pathways connecting activity spaces and landscaping with shaded areas, seating and drink stations and nearby recreational areas.

The vision for this important precinct is for:

A regional sports precinct to service the learning and community sport and program needs of the City of Clarence and the Eastern Shore region. A place that delivers athlete talent development pathways, regional and state-based events for Greater Hobart.

Investment in the Bayview College proposal will have significant economic, social and educational benefits to the Clarence Plains area, wider Clarence LGA and the Greater Hobart Region by providing a state-of-the-art facility to accommodate grass-roots community level sport that also provides pathways for talented juniors to become elite athletes.

The following sports will benefit for the facility at all levels (from beginner to elite):

• Basketball

• Volleyball

• Badminton

• Netball

• Australian Rules Football

• Football (Soccer)

• Cricket

• Tennis

• Touch Football / Rugby

There are an estimated 16,511 participants in the proposed major participation sports for the facility in Clarence that will grow to approximately 18,687 by 2042. An additional 2,177 sport participants are projected in the next 20 years (1,168 indoor sport and 1,381 outdoor sport participants). This will result in a need for additional sports facilities that can cater for major sport participation growth projected if current participation rates are maintained.

The sports precinct would also support Bayview Secondary College’s growing student population including its physical education and school sports program, while providing upgraded facilities for assemblies and school events.

The indoor sports stadium and sports fields would be available for use by Bayview College during school hours (generally five days a week from 8am to 4:30pm).

Facilities would be available for community use at all other times. Council and DECYP have similar successful shared-use arrangements at other local schools, such as Clarence High School.

The shared use model benefits everyone by providing upgraded facilities for schools, while maximising use of available space and facilities to benefit the wider community.

The design of the multi-use sports precinct will optimise the use of the facility while responding to the detailed flood mapping for the site. It will also improve the environmental and biodiversity values of the Clarence Plains Rivulet riparian corridor and capture the cultural heritage values (Aboriginal and European heritage) of the area through interpretive features that tie in with the existing Clarence Plains Historic Trail.

A key design principle will be to Design with Country.

Detailed investigations were undertaken around these important values which then informed the design and were incorporated into the concept plans.