You spoke, we listened

We’ve drafted a master plan for Myrtle and Macleay Parks in Balwyn North. The purpose of this plan is to provide an approach to shaping the precinct's future, ensuring it meets community needs while enhancing safety, accessibility and open space.

The first stage of consultation in 2023 captured diverse and some competing perspectives, reflecting our community's feelings and experiences of Myrtle and Macleay Parks.

We’ve carefully considered all views and have proposed initiatives in the master plan based on:

  • feedback from our community, sporting clubs and organisations, and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
  • Council’s policies and strategies
  • the parks’ characteristics and landscape constraints.

Share your thoughts

Have we got it right? We want to hear from you before we finalise the master plan.

Consultation closes at 5 pm on Tuesday 16 September 2025.

The vision

A welcoming environment for all, which supports community wellbeing and sustainability. A vibrant, accessible, and well-connected open space that is valued for generations to come. The draft vision is informed by feedback we received from hundreds of community members.


The draft master plan proposes initiatives which aim to meet these strategic objectives:

  • provide opportunities for informal recreation
  • support a diverse range of organised sports
  • provide amenities to support our community’s enjoyment of the parks, including park furniture, shade, shelter, public toilets, lighting and gravel paths
  • reduce conflicts between vehicle and pedestrian movement within the parks and the nearby residential streets
  • improve access and wayfinding throughout the parks
  • provide a quality open green space and tree canopy which benefits park users and the surrounding neighbourhood.

Explore the draft master plan

Select the hotspots below to explore the proposed initiatives for Myrtle and Macleay Parks.


Download the full draft plan


You can also explore by these 3 themes:

Access & safety

Map of the park with a focus on the safety and access areas

Pedestrian access and safety:

1. Light up an east-west pathway for safer evening use.

2. Renew and extend gravel paths to connect walking routes.

3. Add distance markers along a new looped gravel path.

4. Create a well-lit off-leash dog area with better barriers to Buchanan Road.

5. New safe pedestrian priority crossings.

Vehicle access and traffic management:

6. Limit Gildan Street access to allow pedestrians and emergency vehicles only.

7. Open vehicle access between Myrtle and Macleay Parks (3 trees may be removed).

8. Build a larger roundabout to improve traffic flow.

9. Use smart signs and sensors to manage parking and reduce congestion.

Parking improvements:

10. Expand Myrtle Park car park (1 tree may need to be removed).

11. Realign roads to allow more parking.

12. Add a new drop off parking bay.

13. Seal and mark the Macleay car park for more efficient parking.

The plan also includes renewing fencing and gates to improve safety and access, installing new signage for wayfinding, local rules, and flood hazards, providing accessible parking and paths for people with disability, and adding bike parking in key locations.

Environment & culture

Map of the park with a focus on the environment and culture areas
Proposed new trees Areas of soil improvement New trees
Projected canopy tree loss over the next few years
Trees that may be removed due to the proposed change in the master plan


  • Plant 150+ new trees and ensure no overall loss of tree canopy cover in the long term. We'll improve the soil quality for new trees to grow and minimise any impact on trees from changes in the parks.
  • Use stormwater options or other initiatives to reduce the amount of drinking water we use to irrigate/water the sportsgrounds. Stormwater treatment options would align with Council’s integrated water management plan.
  • Collaborate with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to design and install a new seating area where people can gather together. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, their culture and caring for Country.
  • Use permeable sealed surfacing in new carpark areas and around the netball courts to enable water to drain into the ground.
  • Explore ideas with the 1st North Balwyn Scout Group for grant opportunities for wall murals and art to improve areas like the back of the Scout Hall, facing the road.
  • Introduce night-time lighting in the park which balances the safety and wellbeing of park users, the preservation of biodiversity and amenity of neighbouring properties.

Sports & park facilities

 Map of the park with a focus on the sports, recreation and community park facilities
  • Provide a well-lit area for off-leash dog walkers to gather in the evenings, with access to water and barriers to roads.
  • Improve and connect park facilities in the south-eastern corner of Macleay Park to form a ‘community activity space’. This includes an upgraded playground (in line with Council’s Playground Development Strategy), the picnic area, a new public toilet and a new gathering area.
  • Install an outdoor fitness station near Macleay Park Oval. The station would cater to all ages and abilities. A new gravel path will connect the fitness station to other areas of the park.
  • Remove the existing cricket pitch on Oval 5 and replace with a portable pitch that can be stored at the Park.
  • A new hit-up wall for casual ball games. The wall would include an artistic mural.
  • Renew Myrtle Pavilion (in line with Council’s Development and Funding of Community Pavilions Policy).
  • Renew sportsgrounds according to Council’s renewal process, including:
    • Myrtle Park Ovals East and West – will be renewed and new sportsground lights added to Myrtle Oval West.
    • Macleay Park Ovals 3 – will be renewed with new sportsground lights.
    • Macleay Park Ovals 1 and 2 – will continue to be maintained. These ovals were recently renewed and have lights.
  • Reorient the baseball diamond at Myrtle Oval East and add a new baseball diamond at Myrtle Oval West.
  • Relocate and renew the cricket nets with additional storage at Myrtle Park.
  • A new basketball hoop in Myrtle Park.
  • Install new permeable surfaces at the netball court warm-up areas and around the trees to improve the available space.
  • Renew the netball courts including court lighting improvements. Further details of the sportsground and court renewals are outlined in the draft master plan (PDF 12.70 MB).


Survey



Previous community consultation

In June and July 2023, we asked our community for feedback to help shape the draft master plan. Thank you to everyone who contributed. We received a high volume of responses:

  • 94 pins dropped online

  • 865 surveys completed

  • 23 workshop attendees

Who we heard from in the survey

We heard from a diverse range of community members:

  • 50% of participants were men, 49% were female and 1% preferred not to answer.
  • The age groups most represented were 35-49 years and 50-59 years. We also heard from children and younger people aged 12 and 34 years (25%).
  • Residents from Balwyn North provided the most responses (23%). Many participants lived in other Boroondara suburbs and visited the parks (57%). Remaining participants lived outside Boroondara. They are likely to be part of a sporting club or people who live close to our municipal boundary (20%).

What we heard

Community members were asked to provide feedback on what they like about Myrtle and Macleay Parks, what improvements they would like to see and their ideas for the future. The feedback emphasises the need to ensure the master plan meets the needs of those who use the parks for both recreation and organised sport.

Reasons people visit the parks

Participants told us they use the parks for both recreation and organised sports.

71% of participants use the park for organised sport with a club or organisation, including:

  • baseball
  • cricket
  • group fitness training
  • netball
  • soccer/football.

Many participants also use the parks for recreation, including:

  • walking (36%)
  • walking a dog on lead (25%)
  • walking a dog off lead (22%)
  • playing on the playground (21%)
  • jogging (14%)
  • skating or bike riding (10%).

A small number of participants also use the parks for other recreation activities, like scouts and Tai Chi.

Key themes

Most of the feedback our community shared can be grouped into 3 key themes:

This included feedback about car parking, lighting, flood control and paths.

When asked what our community liked about the parks, we heard that our community:

  • perceive the parks to be safe environments for families, children and pets
  • appreciate the accessible location
  • enjoy the gravel and unpaved walking paths for walking, jogging and cycling.

“Wide open spaces. Easy to get around. It feels safe because there are lots of other people and activities.”

“I love the walking paths around the sports grounds and being able to have my dog off lead.”

When asked about their least favourite thing about the parks, our community said there is:

  • not enough car parking and there are traffic issues at peak times
  • inadequate lighting, particularly during winter, which can be limiting for sporting schedules and recreation (like walking, dog walking and jogging)
  • poor drainage along paths.

“Parking! On a Saturday morning it is very difficult to get a park.”

“Bad Lighting across the park.”

This included feedback about the natural environment, park amenities (like the playground and Scout Hall), dog walking, signage and cultural heritage.

When asked what our community liked about the parks, we heard that our community:

  • like the abundance of trees and greenery which contribute to a serene atmosphere
  • like the passive open spaces for relaxation, enjoyment and recreation
  • consider the playground to be popular among families with children.

“The green spaces are vast and beautiful with the trees. Community atmosphere. It just has a good vibe with all the birds and natural areas.”

“Very open, lot of areas of grass and great playground.”

When asked about their least favourite thing about the parks, our community said that:

  • poor control of dogs off-lead creates safety concerns for other park users
  • there is a desire for more passive amenities in open spaces, like picnic tables and seats
  • signage and routes could be improved throughout the parks.

“No sheltered sitting/picnic area near the playground.”

“I would like better signage about where dogs must be on lead, and where they can be off lead. I think they must be on lead along the paths.”

This included feedback about netball, cricket, soccer and baseball facilities, as well as pavilions and toilets.

When asked what our community liked about the parks, our community said:

  • they appreciate the diversity of sporting opportunities at the parks
  • the grounds are well-maintained to support sporting activity
  • the precinct is a place to improve health, wellbeing and social connections.

“Organised sport facility for my children where they can participate in sport in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.”

“The local atmosphere - community sport.”

When asked about their least favourite thing about the parks, our community said:

  • the pavilions and toilet facilities do not meet their standards
  • there is a need for upgraded sports facilities, including improved surfaces
  • they would like more sheltered areas for viewing and spectating.

“Toilets lacking. Poor club room facilities.”

“Sometimes very muddy and not enough seating when watching sporting games.”

Competing views

Through consultation, we heard a diverse range of perspectives, including some competing views which we are carefully considering as we draft the master plan:

Some participants expressed mixed views about the cricket pitches on the ovals.

“Love Myrtle Park, it's such a beautiful ground and it has one of the best cricket tables in the ECA. The ground is always in beautiful condition, and it drains very well when it rains.”

“The cricket pitches in the middle of the ground make it very difficult to train properly as the ball bounces differently and you cannot tackle safely on the cricket pitch.”

The baseball and soccer clubs advocated for turf enhancements. They suggested using artificial and hybrid turfs.

Others felt artificial and hybrid turfs could adversely affect cricket clubs who use the parks and those who use the space for recreation.

“Synthetic soccer turf would be a dream!”

“…under no circumstances should Macleay 3 be converted from current mixed use (cricket, soccer, jogging etc) to a soccer only ground or to artificial turf which will impliedly achieve the same result.”

Most participants said they preferred unsealed gravel paths throughout the parks, particularly the east-west link along the northern boundary of the park. However, some said they’d prefer sealed bicycle paths through the parks.

Sealed bicycle paths are not being considered as part of this master plan.

This is because in Boroondara’s parks and open spaces, our approach is to maintain and upgrade existing unsealed gravel paths. We do this because:

  • we want to preserve the natural environment
  • informal shared paths are mostly used for recreation and local trips
  • more pedestrians use the paths compared to bicycle riders.

This is consistent with Council’s position outlined in the Boroondara Bicycle Strategy 2022-32.

What we heard at the workshop

Workshop participants identified areas for improvement which can be summarised into these themes:

  • Upgrade and redevelopment improvements to pavilion.

  • Improved informal recreation facilities and signage.

  • Playing field and court improvements.

  • Parking and traffic improvements.

  • Lighting improvements.

  • Playground improvements.

  • Pathways improvements.

  • Improving open spaces and environmental benefits.

  • Opportunities for art, culture and education.

  • Upgrades to the scout hall and building.

Who attended

The workshop included a representative sample of residents who lived on streets adjoining the parks and representatives from clubs and organisations that use the parks, including:

  • North Balwyn Baseball Club
  • North Balwyn Bowls Club
  • Boroondara Cricket Club
  • 1st North Balwyn Scout Group
  • Balwyn Saints Cricket Club
  • North Balwyn CC
  • Boroondara Netball Association
  • Boroondara Eagles Football Club

Some clubs were invited, but could not attend:

  • Miss Spartan Group Fitness
  • Melbourne Baseball Club
  • One FC.

Thank you to everyone who attended.