The significant role that Council parks and sportsgrounds play in the community’s health and wellbeing is acknowledged in various strategic documents including the Auburn City Community Strategic Plan 2013-23 and the Auburn Sportsground Strategy 2010. The notion of providing local sporting clubs with longer term tenancy agreements was a specific recommendation of the Auburn Sportsground Strategy. At its meeting on the 7 October 2015, Council considered a report (239/15) on the issue of longer term licencing and resolved:

* That Council call for Expressions of Interest for the use of Progress Park Community Centre and sportsgrounds
* That Council call for Expressions of Interest for the use of Webb’s Avenue sportsground and associated buildings
* That a report be brought back to Council on the results of the Expressions of Interest process Consequently, Council is seeking Expressions of Interest for the use of either of the two facilities from incorporated not for profit community sports clubs that are either based in Auburn or have a significant proportion of members that live in the Auburn local government area.