Southland Regional Spaces and Places Strategy

Southland Regional Spaces and Places Strategy

Southland Regional Spaces and Places Strategy

Client

Sport Southland, New Zealand

Project Purpose

  • Deliver a ‘snapshot’ of current provision of indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities across the region and provide a clear pathway for future development and future facilities that are fit for purpose, sustainable and meet the needs of those communities that use them.
  • Consider influencing factors, including population and demographic changes, behavioural and future trends, and changes and needs of participants. Demand for sport and recreational facilities will be considered, including the extent to which this demand is being met.
  • The Strategy will provide information and recommendations to inform future Asset Management Plans, Long-Term and Annual Plans for the Councils and Funding Agencies, as to what the priorities are for the region. For example, in order of meeting any shortfall in demand.
  • The Strategy will cover a wide range of assets and will build an overall and inclusive regional-level Strategy. The Strategy will not replace the need for more geographically focused planning or the analysis of individual assets and development plans at other sub-regional or local levels.
Para Sports South East Queensland IndoorInfrastructure Legacy Strategy

Para Sports South East Queensland IndoorInfrastructure Legacy Strategy

Para Sports South East Queensland Indoor Infrastructure Legacy Strategy

Client

Paralympics Australia

Project Purpose

The Strategy incorporates a Hierarchy Framework for indoor para sport facilities that provides guidance on the purpose, location accessibility and facilities needs of indoor para sports.

Otium’s Role

  • Principal consultant
  • Research
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Demand analysis
  • Indoor para sport infrastructure hierarchy framework
  • Future network development
  • Benefits assessment.

Project Outcomes

Used as a tool by Paralympics Australia to facilitate optimised legacy outcomes with 2032 Paralympic Games organisers.

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Planning within Australia for disability sports is limited compared to the framework for able bodied athletes.
  • Otium was able to leverage its engagement techniques to acquire the knowledge necessary to develop a strategy that gained the support of the para sports community.

Community Benefits

Once implemented, para sports in South East Queensland will, for the first time, better address demand and accessibility, optimise high performance partnerships, including shared resources and learnings, have an environment for ongoing research, rehabilitation and recovery.
Review Of Supply and Demand for Sports Facilities in the NSROC Region

Review Of Supply and Demand for Sports Facilities in the NSROC Region

Review Of Supply and Demand for Sports Facilities in the NSROC Region

Client

Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) (NSW)

Project Purpose

Provide a strong evidence base to assist NSROC and its Member Councils to advocate for greater strategic direction, secure grant funding, respond to pressure from stakeholders and coordinate a regional approach to supply and demand issues.

Otium’s Role

  • Catchment analysis.
  • Development of detailed inventory and mapping.
  • Trends analysis.
  • Demand modelling.
  • Assessment of supply and demand.
  • Future opportunities identification.

Project Outcomes

  • Adopted and currently being implemented.
  • Generated strong national and state media interest.
  • Winner of Parks & Leisure Australia (NSW) Strategic Planning Award (2024).
  • Commendation Parks & Leisure Australia Award (2024).

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Coordinating data from eight Member Councils.
  • Facilitating an agreed approach to future opportunities.
  • Regular engagement with all key stakeholders is critical to ensuring collective agreement.

Community Benefits

  • Increased awareness of supply and demand gap challenges by all stakeholders.
  • Clear pathway to optimising current assets and planning for new assets via innovative strategies.
Lake Macquarie Sports Strategy

Lake Macquarie Sports Strategy

Lake Macquarie Sports Strategy

Client

Lake Macquarie City Council (NSW)

Project Purpose

To provide a strategic framework and action plan to support sports participation, liveability, health, and wellbeing.

Extensive consultation was conducted to inform the Sports Strategy. 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.

Otium’s Role

  • Community and stakeholder engagement.
  • Developing strategic frameworks and action plans.
  • Implementation guidance, including financial planning and infrastructure strategies.

Project Outcomes

  • Clear strategic directions and actions.
  • Planning framework with design standards.
  • Facility categorisation and improvement opportunities.

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Engaging diverse stakeholders effectively.
  • Balancing differing community needs.
  • Securing financial resources from various funding sources.

Community Benefits

  • Improved sports facilities for active lifestyles and wellbeing.
  • Clear roadmap for facility planning and management.
  • Inclusive engagement for all community voices.