Dennis Reserve
Dennis Reserve is a popular park in central Williamstown. It is home to the Williamstown Central Tennis Club, Williamstown Bowling Club and Williamstown Senior Citizens Building where a range of community groups participate in activities and events. The reserve contains heritage features, a play space, established trees and gardens. Dennis Reserve is an important reserve for the local community as it provides a key connection between the Williamstown Activity Centre, local residential areas and other public facilities as well as a diverse range of active and passive recreation opportunities.
In 2015, Council established a community working group to assist in the development of a draft master plan to guide the future use and development of Dennis Reserve. The working group included representatives from community groups that either currently use or would like to use the reserve, as well as representatives from the broader community.
In early 2016, Council conducted a survey asking community members about their current use and future requirements of the reserve; the results of the survey were used to inform the development of the master plan options.
The Dennis Reserve Master Plan was shaped by many conversations with our community, the key features include:
- the reconfiguration of existing courts to accommodate four tennis courts
- improvements to open space areas
- a rebuild of the multipurpose community building that will be home to a number of community groups including Williamstown Senior Citizens and Williamstown Central Tennis Club
Council adopted the Dennis Reserve Master Plan at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 12 March 2019. View the minutes from the Council Meeting, or watch the meeting online.
A copy of the Dennis Reserve Master Plan is available below:
View the endorsed Dennis Reserve Master Plan Background Report
View the endorsed Dennis Reserve Master Plan and Staging Plan
Latest News - Works to start soon at Dennis Reserve
Council has submitted a planning permit application to progress the approved master plan for Dennis Reserve in Williamstown.
The approved plan will see two additional tennis courts, a new multi-purpose community building, and upgraded open space areas and landscaping.
The master plan is intended to be completed in three stages over the next 3 years:
- stage 1 – the demolition of existing tennis courts, tennis club pavilion and the ladies bowling green and pavilion and the construction of four new tennis courts
- stage 2 – open space upgrades to the southern end of the reserve
- stage 3 - demolishing the existing senior citizens centre and constructing a new multi-purpose community pavilion
The planning permit application is the first step towards delivering on the approved plan for the reserve. The application seeks approval to allow for the demolition of the former Williamstown Ladies Bowling Club building and the existing tennis courts to make way for four new courts in a different configuration on the site.
If Council receives planning approval the demolition will commence in November 2019.
The master plan commits to improving the reserve’s landscaping, pathways, a number of new tree plantings and formal garden areas.
Engagement for the open spaces and landscape design will start on 1 November through to 30 November with a drop-in session on Sunday, 10 November between 11.30am and 1.30pm and Thursday, 14 November 5pm–7pm at the Williamstown Senior Citizens Centre, 109 Ferguson Street, Williamstown. Keep an eye on participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au from Friday 25 October for updates and how to get involved.
The Williamstown Senior Citizens Centre on the site is nearing the end of its useful life, with structural integrity and subsidence the main issues. The intention is to demolish the building eventually to make way for a new and very much improved multi-use community facility that would be designed in consultation with all users.
Council expect to start the consultation process on concepts for the design in early 2019 and won’t be looking to construct that until 2020-2021.
Location
Melbourne Road, Williamstown 3015 View Map
-37.8571739,144.8989089
,
Williamstown 3015