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John Connell Reserve Master Plan

John Connell Reserve Master Plan
John Connell Reserve Master Plan

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The City is preparing this master plan for presentation to Council, after it had been placed on hold.

Last Updated: 7 July 2025 Follow Engagement

The City has prepared a master plan for John Connell Reserve in Leeming, to ensure a consolidated vision recognising the recreational, environmental and cultural values of the site.  

Shaped collaboratively with local stakeholders and community, the John Connell Reserve Master Plan sets the vision for a more inclusive, enjoyable and valuable place for everyone. 

In development since 2021, we have completed and extensive engagement process to ensure the plan reflects our community’s values, aspirations, and needs. 

The plan was placed on hold in 2024, pending the outcome of a native vegetation clearing permit for 0.68ha of land directly adjacent to the existing sports fields (see ‘About the site’ for further information).  

The clearing permit has been approved by the Department of Water and Environmental regulation, subject to an appeals process. More information will be available in August 2025.

Community engagement clearly highlighted the importance of play spaces and social areas. In response, we will proceed with the play space and exercise equipment renewal, with work set to begin in May 2025.

Opportunities to get involved

There are currently no opportunities to get involved. We undertook extensive community engagement to ensure the John Connell Reserve Master Plan truly reflects the community’s needs and aspirations.   
Following a presentation to Council regarding the Master Plan and next steps, we’ll inform the community of outcomes by updating this page and hosting a community information session in Leeming.

Draft concept designs

Design and Place Principles Framework

To guide the preparation of the master plan and bring together the values and aspirations of both stakeholders and community, a Design and Place Principles Framework was developed. 

Design and Place Principles 

Vision for the site

Create a John Connell Reserve that champions safe, sustainable use of the land, nurtures the environment and provides for diverse community and recreational needs through inclusive design and adaptive management.

FAQs

About the project


Key objectives

The master plan objectives include: 

  • Articulating a clear vision for the site that can be used to develop scenarios and guide future direction for the study area

  • Engaging with the community and key stakeholders to ensure the future vision is informed and shaped by the community 

  • Increasing and improving the usable public open space and active sporting areas, whilst preserving natural spaces for all to enjoy 

  • Improving access to and through the site, including parking considerations 

  • Protecting and enhancing reserve biodiversity 

  • Celebrating First Nations' history and values 

  • Exploring long-term remediation of the former landfill site 

  • Establishing an exemplar model for remediation and recreation development 

  • Guiding future decision-making for the next 20 years. 

What is a master plan and what is it trying to achieve?
A master plan is a dynamic long-term strategic document that provides overarching guidance and coordination for the future of an area. 
 
The master plan establishes a framework and key principles that align with good practice and outcomes for the site, in line with the shared values identified by the project team and stakeholders. It will not determine the merit of proposals themselves or provide a decision-making function as it is not a statutory document. 
 
The master plan will ultimately guide the manner in which the John Connell Reserve area will evolve, and be used as a basis for more detailed planning and funding decisions. 
Who is the final decision maker on the master plan?
The City of Melville Council will make the final decision regarding endorsement of the master plan. 
How is the master plan being funded?
The City has funded the preparation of the master plan. The implementation of recommendations and priority projects, including funding allocation arising from the master plan, will be a future decision for the City of Melville Council. 
How did this project come about?

In February 2021, Council unanimously resolved the following: 

  • Authorises the Chief Executive Officer to notify Development WA that the City intends to no longer proceed with the Memorandum of Understanding for the John Connell Reserve Redevelopment Project. 

  • Authorises the Chief Executive Officer to write to Melville Glades Golf Club advising of the Council decision. 

  • Notes the improvement projects put forward for the John Connell Reserve at the request of the stakeholders being, the upgrade to the present change rooms, relocation and replacement of the practice cricket nets, and the construction of additional parking, be brought forward for consideration in the event that external funding to cover these costs is secured. 

  • Brings forward the preparation of the Master Plan for the entire 122 hectare John Connell Reserve for consideration in the 2021-2022 budget. 

On Tuesday June 22, 2021, Council adopted the 2021-22 financial year budget, which included funds to carry out the John Connell Reserve Master Plan. 

When will the master plan be completed?
The master plan is proposed to be presented to the June 2025 Ordinary Meeting of Council.
Who has the City engaged in the planning process?

Working in collaboration with Element Advisory, the City delivered a range of engagement activities to involve the community and key stakeholders throughout the development of the master plan: 

  1. Early conversations with stakeholders
    • Initial discussions to understand priorities, needs, and challenges from key groups and individuals. 
  2. Establishment of a community representative group – the John Connell Collective 
    • A group formed to provide ongoing input and local insight throughout the process. 
  3. First Nations Elder engagement 
    • Direct engagement with Elders to ensure cultural perspectives were respected and included. 
  4. Digital roundtable 
    • Online session with diverse stakeholders to share ideas, identify opportunities, and discuss concerns. 
  5. Community survey 
    • Open to all community members, with targeted communication to local residents in and around the project area. 
  6. Interactive design workshops 
    • In-person workshops where community members helped shape design elements and explore possibilities for the space. 
  7. Master plan scenario testing 
    • Presentation of draft ideas and potential development scenarios to test community preferences. 
  8. Community listening post at the night market 
    • Informal, face-to-face engagement opportunity held at a local night market to reach a broader audience. 
Will the golf course undergo any changes?
This master plan has not considered any changes to the location or course layout (including holes) at the Melville Glades Golf Club. 
Will the master plan retain the recreational facilities and existing active sports the Reserve currently offers?
Yes, continued use of existing sports will be preserved in the final master plan. 
 
The master plan may consider shared use or relocation of facilities within the reserve where appropriate. 

About the site


About the reserve
The John Connell and Melville Glades Reserves comprise of 122 hectares of important public open space in the eastern part of the City of Melville. They provide significant environmental, passive and active recreational opportunities for the local and regional community. 
  
Part of the John Connell Reserve was previously the site of the Dundee Road Landfill, which operated from 1974 to 2000 and includes areas currently occupied by the Bowmen of Melville (Archery), Amalgamated Melville Homing Club (homing pigeons), public park area, and the Melville Golf Centre. 
  
The last stage of the landfill occurred on the southwestern corner of the reserve, which resulted in a final landform level representing the highest part of the elevated area being 41 metres above sea level. 
  
The site is classified as “contaminated – remediation required” by the Department of Water and Environment Regulation in accordance with the Contaminated Sites Act 2003. 
  
Leeming Bowls and Recreation Club Inc, Leeming Strikers Football Club, Leeming Spartans Cricket Club, Leeming Spartans Junior Cricket Club and the Leeming Sporting Association Inc. are also located on the site. The Melville Glades Golf Club (18-hole private golf course) is located on the Melville Glades Reserve within the project site. 
What is the project area?
Will the Master Plan include residential development or land sale?
This master plan has not considered residential development anywhere on the site, or changes to the holes/course layout at the Melville Glades Golf Club, unlike the previous planning project.  
  
An earlier draft concept plan (including residential development) was prepared  and presented to Council in 2019 for informal feedback prior to embarking on a community consultation process. 
  
In October 2019, Council elections resulted in the then Council expressing its opposition to proceeding with the residential development project.  The City had a Memorandum of Understanding with DevelopmentWA (formerly LandCorp) regarding the previous development project.  As per the Council resolution in February 2021, the City advised it no longer intended to proceed with the agreement. As a result, the John Connell Reserve Redevelopment Project was abandoned.
Will the master plan include commercial development?
Appropriate commercial development that is complementary and aligns with the core uses and functions of the site may be considered.

Any inappropriate commercial development is excluded from consideration of the master plan.
Will existing trees and foliage be preserved within the John Connell Reserve?
The master plan has been designed to encourage a net increase in canopy cover.

Consideration will be given with any development of recreational spaces to minimise additional pressure on existing endangered vegetation communities, habitat, and resources. The master plan will aim to provide a restorative landscape that delivers greater environmental value.
John Connell Reserve used to be an old landfill site. Is it contaminated?
The site has a varied history, including a portion previously being used as landfill for 26 years, with much of it requiring remediation as shown on the map below. The contamination ranges in depth across the site, and soil capping is very thin (<0.5m – to none at surface). The contamination is largely construction and domestic waste, asbestos containing materials and soil leachate (heavy metals).
 
There is a need to remediate part of the site as per the Contaminated Sites Act 2003, and it is unlikely new development of the contaminated areas will be authorised unless some remedial work is completed. It also may affect the standard of buildings required in the future (i.e. specific footings, stabilisation work) and how groundwater may be used. The ability for vegetation to re-establish on landfill areas is currently unknown, and it may not be successful beyond the embankments, until further studies are completed.
 
Whilst the entire parcel of land shown in the map below is classified as contaminated, not all of this area has contaminated material in it. This relates only to the previous landfill site as shown on the map. The native bushland (Banksia Woodland) areas, adjacent playing fields and facilities do not require remediation.  
 

A recommendation from this master planning process is to continue with some immediate investigations to help answer some of the questions about how the contamination is best remediated. These studies include (but are not limited to):
  • Geotechnical studies – compaction and test of material for future use
  • Investigations of additional piles of construction material (post 2013)
  • Nature and extent of older/current capping (is it still viable)
  • Groundwater testing / monitoring sampling (3-5 years) – particularly for driving range groundwater abstraction
  • Water quality data from existing bore (onsite)
  • Asbestos Management Plan pre any work on the landfill areas
  • Update Site Management Plan (presently and ongoing)
  • Landfill gas assessments for structures/buildings on landfill areas (12-24 months)
  • Health risk assessments.
 
We are sharing this information to help you understand some of the complexities with redeveloping this site and that further work needs to be done, which will take time and cost. The cost of remediation is also unknown to some extent, until some of these investigations are completed.
There is an application for a clearing permit of the native bushland near the existing playing ovals. What does this mean?

The John Connell Reserve Master Plan has been on hold pending the outcome of a native vegetation clearing permit for 0.68ha of land directly adjacent to the existing sports fields. The outcome of the clearing permit is still unknown. Officers are preparing to present the master plan to Council in aid of progressing detailed remediation investigations for the site.  

A clearing permit for the strip of bushland east of the cricket oval (shown below) was lodged with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DEWR) in June 2023 and is currently being assessed.  

The City, as land manager, gave permission for the Spartans Cricket Club to lodge a vegetation clearing application with DWER as the pre-requisite for a potential oval extension proposal. DWER is the responsible authority for issuing the clearing permit, however, the oval extension has not been approved and would be subject to further design and cost estimates before any decision by Council. The oval extension project is likely to involve significant retaining works and there may be conditions imposed by DWER that need to be considered in terms of costs and practicability. 

 

About the engagement process


John Connell Collective
The John Connell Collective (JCC) is a community reference group that was designated to ensure the project engagement was a collaborative and iterative process. The JCC’s purpose was to ensure a diverse range of community and supporting agencies are represented.

Who was part of the JCC?
The JCC was a combination of invited stakeholder group representatives and members of the community chosen via an EOI processes.

The final JCC members will consist of up to 15-20 representatives.

How were JCC community members selected?
Community members were chosen via a blind selection process using deidentified data to ensure a diverse mix of demographics and interests from the community were included.

How did the JCC assist with the Master Plan?
JCC members acted as a sounding board for the project team throughout the entire master planning process and ensured we heard from to a diverse set of voices.

Is there a Terms of Reference for the JCC?
All JCC members were required to adhere to the JCC Terms of Reference.
 
First Nations Elder Engagement

Throughout the engagement process the City worked with First Nations Elders to understand the Aboriginal Culture and Heritage of the site. From two workshops, including site visits, the First Nations Elders shared their stories and suggestions for the future of the Reserve, including investigation for a cultural map and acknowledgement.

Community Survey

Our online survey closed at midnight on Sunday, 2 April 2023, and we had a great response with 645 people participating

The results showed strong local engagement: 

  • 72% of respondents were Leeming residents 

  • 55% of respondents lived within 1 km of John Connell Reserve 

  • 58% of respondents visited the reserve at least weekly. 


Check out the report below to find out more about what was shared.

community survey Results 
Youth Engagement
Thirty students in Years 7 to 12 from Leeming Senior High School (LSHS) and LSHS Education Support Centre contributed to the idea sharing through a two hour interactive classroom activity on 20 July, 2023.  The enthusiastic students shared some great ideas for recreation-based activities including a maze, paintball, café and laser tag. Other discussions included maintaining open space, having hangout areas and being able to use the space to relax and be in nature.
Scenarios Survey
The scenarios survey closed Sunday, 10 December 2023. We received feedback from 447 people. The survey allowed for preferences to be identified across possible scenarios for the future of the John Connell Reserve.

View the report to see what our community shared.
 

Timeline

  • 17 February 2021
  • Ordinary Meeting of Council
    Council resolved to prepare a Master Plan
  • Wednesday 18 May 2022
  • Tender advertised
  • Tuesday, 16 August 2022
  • Tender Awarded by Council
  • Sept 2022 – Oct 2022
  • Project begins
    Site visit + background and context analysis
  • Nov 2022 – Feb 2023
  • Initial Engagement
    Key stakeholder conversations + establish JCC reference group + Elder Meeting #1 and JCC Meeting #1
  • Dec 2022 – Feb 2023
  • Develop design and place principles
    Prepare draft design and place principles + Seek feedback from Elected Members
  • Feb 2023 – December 2023
  • Community Engagement Process
  • July 2023 – Aug 2023
  • Develop up to 3 Master Plan scenarios
    Seek feedback from Elected Members + Scenario testing at JCC meeting #3
  • Aug 2023 – Oct 2023
  • Prepare draft Master Plan Report
    Elder meeting #3 + Elected Member session
  • Nov 2023
  • Draft Master Plan advertised
    Community listening post + public comment period + Elected Member session
  • Feb 2024
  • Final Master Plan
    JCC meeting #4 and Elder meeting #4
  • June 2024
  • Master Plan on hold
  • August 2025
  • Ordinary Meeting of Council

Contact us

If you require any further information, please contact us.Swipe to see more
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NameGeoff Edwards - A/Healthy Melville Coordinator - Leisure Planning
Phone08 9364 0666
EmailLeisurePlanning@melville.wa.gov.au

Location

Leeming WA 6149 Get Directions

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