What We Do

We plan for great sport, recreation and community facilities

Simon Leisure Consulting is a sports and recreation planning company which offers clients and project stakeholders a personalised service from a small team of experienced planning consultants.

Simon Leisure was formed in 2008 to provide all tiers of government and other organisations with access to a consultancy committed to providing a tailored service and attention to detail.

Director, Richard Simon, has more than 35 years experience in the sport, recreation and leisure industry. He has completed in excess of 200 projects to enable communities to be active and healthy, and which allow sports and recreation clubs and other service providers to have access to appropriate infrastructure so they can be effective enablers of active living.

Simon Leisure specialises in the following service areas:

Sports and Recreation Facility and Program Planning

Comprehensive planning and recommendations for new and improved sporting and recreation facilities and programs, including strategic assessment of need, and town or municipal-wide development strategies

Facility Feasibility and Assessment

Providing full assessment of sports and recreation projects to determine the need and value to the community, and also the economic feasibility and benefit of a development

Sports Reserve and Park Master Planning

Development of site-specific master plans to guide future investment and development of facilities, spaces and supporting infrastructure

Consultation and Meeting Facilitation

Provision of consultation services to engage stakeholders, residents and organisations with innovative techniques to identify evidenced-based research to inform projects and plans

Research and Trend Analysis

Providing research and analysis of trends that impact the provision of sport and recreation services and facilities

Grant Writing and Expert Witness

Research and collate evidence to prepare grant applications to procure funds from external agencies for infrastructure projects, and to represent local government clients at panel hearings to advocate for community sporting facility provision

Who We Are

Richard Simon
Company Director


Qualifications

-Bachelor of Applied Science
(Physical Education), 1980-83, Victoria University

Richard has an extensive background in the sporting, recreation and leisure sectors through both his professional career and his voluntary involvement with many sporting clubs and events.

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After working for 16 years for three local government authorities between 1985-2000 (Melbourne, Knox and Merri-bek), and then for eight years with a leading Australian recreation planning consultancy, Richard established his own leisure consultancy in 2008.

Since 2000, Richard has completed:

  • 20 municipal-wide sport and leisure plans for local government authorities in urban and rural areas of Victoria, NSW, and Queensland.
  • over 80 master plans for sporting and recreation reserves, featuring facilities of State and regional standard to community level.  
  • more than 20 master plans for greenfield sites.
  • in excess of 60 sports facility planning and feasibility projects, involving facilities as diverse as sports fields and tennis courts, to skate parks, indoor stadiums and speedways.

Richard has a well-developed understanding of sustainable community recreation and infrastructure planning principles given his long involvement in the sector.  This includes the industry leadership position of Executive Officer of Parks and Leisure Australia (Vic/ Tas Region), a role he held for 12 years from 2011.

Richard has hands-on operational experience managing sporting clubs, having been on committees since 2003, including a 10 year term as president of a football club.  He is a Life Member of three community sporting clubs.

He has grounded community development principles having been the Chair of a Bendigo Bank community enterprise for 4 years, and has led a number of organisations to deliver community events and programs.

His blend of professional experience and volunteering ensures clients are working with a professional that can develop effective, realistic and practical solutions.

Pamela Simon
Consultant


Qualifications

-Bachelor of Applied Science
(Physical Education), 1982-84, Victoria University
-Diploma Education, 1985, Melbourne University, 1985

Pamela joined Simon Leisure Consulting in 2014 following a career of over 20 years as a physical education teacher at Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC) in Melbourne, the final five years as Director of Sport.  Pamela gained significant skills and experience in the planning for sporting facilities whilst at PLC, particularly from her role during the 5 year sporting facilities development program undertaken by the school from 2009.

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In her time with Simon Leisure Consulting, Pamela has assisted with site reviews and facility audits, coordinated stakeholder engagement processes and the subsequent collation of findings, and undertaken literature reviews and demographic analysis.

Pamela has provided direct support to most projects completed by Simon Leisure since her commencement, including the long-term contract to provide Executive Officer services to the Victoria/ Tasmania Region of Parks and Leisure Australia.  During this contract Pamela attended to all administrative tasks and member liaison, and had a lead role in the organisation and delivery of seminars, conferences and other industry events.

Our Work

A small sample of our work history
  • Sports and Recreation Facility and Program Planning
  • Facility Feasibility and Assessment
  • Sports Reserve and Park Master Planning
  • Greenfield Site Master Planning
  • Consultation and Meeting Facilitation
  • Research and Trends Analysis
  • Grant Writing and Expert Witness
  • Sports Facility Demand Strategy (Melton City)
  • Sports Infrastructure Strategy for Growth Areas (Mitchell Shire)
  • Change The Game: the Glenn Innes Severn sports plan (Glenn Innes Severn Council)
  • Coffs Harbour Sports Facility Plan (Coffs Harbour City)
  • Informal Sport and Recreation Plan (Port Phillip City)
  • Whittlesea Netball and Basketball Plan (Whittlesea City)
  • Cricket and Australian Rules Football Strategy (Wyndham City)
  • Women’s and Youth Football Academy Feasibility (Melbourne Victory Football Club)
  • Proposal for the Redevelopment of Elsternwick Park No. 1 Oval Precinct (Victorian Government)
  • Sports Lighting Review (Melbourne City)
  • Somerville Soccer Facility Feasibility Study (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
  • McIvor Reserve Master Plan, Yarraville (Maribyrnong City)
  • MacPherson Park Recreation Reserve Master Plan, Melton (Melton City)
  • Emil Madsen Reserve Master Plan, Mt Eliza (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
  • D McLean Reserve Master Plan, Spotswood (Hobsons Bay City)
  • Romsey Park Master Plan (Macedon Ranges Shire)
  • Victoria Park Master Plan, Echuca (Campaspe Shire)
  • Jubilee Park Master Plan, Frankston (Frankston City)
  • Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve (Bass Coast Shire)
  • Eildon Pondage Master Plan (Murrindindi Shire)
  • Holm Park Recreation Reserve Master Plan, Beaconsfield (Cardinia Shire)
  • Phillip Island Recreation Reserve, Cowes (Bass Coast Shire)
  • Brookdale Road Reserve, Point Cook (Wyndham City)
  • West Woolgoolga Sportsground, Woolgoolga (Coffs Harbour City)
  • Sandringham Golf Links Redevelopment (Golf Victoria; Sandringham Golf Course)
  • Kardinia Park Master Plan (Waypoint Group; Greater Geelong City)
  • Bacchus Marsh Regional Sports Precinct Pavilion Management Plan (Moorabool Shire)
  • Community Asset Committees New Licence Agreements (x8) (Moyne Shire)
  • Recreation Needs Study: sporting trends review (Glen Eira City)
  • Needs Assessment for Athletics in the City of Bayside (Bayside City)
  • Impact Assessment of the Removal of the Boroondara Tennis Centre (Boroondara City)
  • Preston to Bell Level Crossing Removal Project – Recreation Study (Darebin City)
  • Turf Pitch Benchmarking Study (Monash City)
  • Bushfire Recovery Victoria Grants x 6, total approved $3.2m (East Gippsland Shire)
  • CSISP Grant Program – WORLD Sporting Precinct $8.95m (East Gippsland Shire)
  • CFFP Grant Program – Dixon Field Community Pavilion $440k (Macedon Ranges Shire)
  • North East Link Project EES Panel Hearing (Banyule, Boroondara, Whitehorse Cities)
  • Pakenham East Precinct Structure Plan Expert Witness Report (Cardinia Shire)
  • Clyde North Precinct Structure Plan Expert Witness Report (Casey City)

Our Awards

Industry Awards

  • 2019 Parks and Leisure Australia (Vic/ Tas Region) Strategic Planning Project of the Year (Whittlesea Netball and Basketball Plan 2019-2041)
  • 2019 Parks and Leisure Australia (Vic/ Tas Region) Best Regional/ Rural Industry Contribution of the Year (Bairnsdale Sporting Facilities Plan)
  • 2020 Parks and Leisure Australia (NSW/ ACT Region) Strategic Planning Project of the Year (Change The Game: the Glenn Innes Severn Sports Plan)

Community Sporting Awards

  • Life Member x2, Ormond Amateur Football Club
  • Life Member, Ormond Cricket Club
  • Life Member, Victorian Amateur Football Association Umpires Association
  • Certificate of Merit, Victorian Amateur Football Association
  • Certificate of Appreciation, David Southwick MP Member for Caulfield (for service to the Ormond AFC)
  • 15 years Service to Girls Sports Victoria

Our Contact

Talk to us about your next project

Call us at 0458 957 824 or drop your message below












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