Eastern Community Sports & Recreation Inc (ECSR) is a multi-sport club established to support and deliver community-based sporting and recreation services to the wider eastern suburbs. ECSR currently hold a lease and licence over 4325m² of Rawhiti Domain for their covered multi-court sports facility and outdoor tennis/netball court, and a yet to be built sand volleyball court and radio-controlled model car track.

What is proposed

The variation to ESCR’s existing lease on Rawhiti Domain will include two additional pre-existing sports facilities:

Cricket pavilion

The lease variation would allow ownership of an 83m² area (shown as Area F in the plans below) and the building on it to be transferred to ECSR. This building is currently used as storage for the New Brighton Cricket Club following a fire that destroyed their former pavilion.

Permanent softball pitch

The variation will also include the diamond softball pitch (shown as Area G approximately 990 m²⁾. ESRC developed the permanent artificial softball pitch/diamond, back stop fences, dugouts and bleachers, using a ‘shovel ready’ funding grant from central Government. Requirements to use the funding by a set date, meant approval to construct the facility under a temporary licence was given by the Coastal-Burwood Community Board on 14 June 2021.

The variation to the lease will be in accordance with the Reserves Act 1977, and will have the same term as the original lease - final expiry 31 December 2051. Fees and charges will be in line with Council’s standard charging rates.

Community board decision

Once the public feedback period closes on 15 December 2023, we will analyse the feedback, which will be considered by the Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood as part of a staff report. Submitters can request to be heard by a panel of elected members, and a Hearings would be held, if required. The Hearing Panel would then present a report to the Community Board for its decision.