This financial year, we’re investing $98 million in our capital works program to renew, upgrade and expand vital community infrastructure. This covers projects big and small, from roads, footpaths and drains to playgrounds, pavilions and sports grounds.

Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve recently improved and currently have in the works across Boroondara.

Sports pavilions

We’re continuing to upgrade sports pavilions to give our community better places to play and train. The new designs provide inclusive changerooms and bathrooms to support women’s and girls’ sport, accessible ramps for easier access, dedicated first aid rooms, better multipurpose spaces and public toilet access. 

Project updates:

• We opened the upgraded pavilion at Canterbury Sports Ground in November 2025.
• We’re finishing upgrades at Frog Hollow Reserve and Highfield Park in Camberwell in early-2026.
• Construction on the Greythorn Park pavilion in Balwyn will start in early-2026.

Kindergartens and preschools

We’re continuing to renew early years facilities to give local children, families and educators better spaces to learn, play and teach. We work with each kindergarten to design spaces that are easier to use and more accessible.

Project updates:

• We finished upgrading Deepdene Preschool in late-2025, ready for the 2026 kinder year.
• Construction is starting at Estrella Preschool in Ashburton and Glass Street Kindergarten in Kew East in early-2026.

Playgrounds

We upgrade several neighbourhood playgrounds each year to make sure they’re safe, fun and meet the changing needs of children and families.

Project updates:

• Burwood Reserve, Kellett Reserve and Winton Road Reserve playgrounds were completed in mid-2025, and Howard Dawson Reserve in December 2025.
• Construction is underway at Norway Reserve in Canterbury and Dorothy Laver Reserve East in Ashburton.
• We’ll start building South Surrey Park playground in Surrey Hills in early-2026.

Lighting

New solar lighting has been installed along the entry and northern car park at Burwood Reserve, giving safer access to the sportsground in the evenings. 

We also added handrail lighting along Railway Walk between Stanhope Grove and Brinsley Road in Camberwell (pictured). The energy-efficient LED lights are focused only on the path to minimise impact to wildlife and the surrounding neighbourhood. 

We’re adding similar new lighting at Victoria Road Reserve in Hawthorn East, after a request from residents to make the path safer for people walking to Auburn Station and Auburn village.

St James Park War Memorial

This 96-year-old cenotaph in Hawthorn has been carefully restored. Specialist tradespeople resurfaced and replaced weathered stone, reapplied gold paint to the lettering, fixed damaged elements and added the new theatres of war to the main structure. 

We’re also replacing a temporary plaque and installing flag poles and power to support Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and other commemorative events.

Back Creek Trail

We restored a section of the Back Creek Trail in Camberwell after erosion made it unsafe. We worked with engineers and Melbourne Water to repair the creek bank and rebuild the path. We’ve also taken steps to prevent further erosion, keeping the trail and surrounding area safe.

Roads, footpaths and stormwater drainage

Roads

This financial year we’re investing almost $13 million in re-sheeting and rebuilding local roads, with more than 56,000 square metres completed so far.

Footpaths

Our team has completed 6,395 footpath maintenance requests over the past 12 months, identified through routine inspections and in response to community requests. 

You’ll also find upgraded gravel paths in:

• Ferndale Park, Glen Iris
• Nicholson Street Reserve, Balwyn
• King Street Chain Reserve, Balwyn

Stormwater drainage

We’ll complete 15 major stormwater drainage projects to reduce the risk of flooding in problem areas, investing over $560,000.

To stay up to date about all the projects we’re delivering, visit our Projects and major works page.