Reserve work: Liberals announce $750k for Memorial Reserve upgrades

THE Ocean Grove Memorial Reserve’s redevelopment will receive further funding from the Morrison Government, with $750,000 to go towards pavilion works and possible lighting improvements.

Decided just before the caretaker period but announced by Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson earlier this week, the new funding would be added to Senator Henderson’s $500,000 commitment (when she was the federal member for Corangamite) just before the 2019 federal election for upgrades at the same reserve as well as Shell Road Reserve.

“With so many community and sporting groups using Memorial Reserve, this project will provide vital investment for the Ocean Grove community,” Senator Henderson said.

“A key focus of the Morrison Government is to build stronger communities in the regions. Investing in sporting and community infrastructure supports healthy, active and connected communities.

“This funding is in addition to the Morrison Government’s $500,000 commitment in the 2019 election, which is being used to fund a minor lighting upgrade at Memorial Reserve as well as major upgrades at Shell Road Reserve – new oval netting, netball court seating (in progress) and upgraded lights for the main oval and netball courts which have recently been completed and switched on.

“This $750,000 would go towards the pavilion and any further lighting upgrade if required.”
Memorial Reserve is used as a secondary oval by junior football teams from the Ocean Grove Football Club and the Ocean Grove Grubbers, and the Ocean Grove Cricket Club in summer.

It is also home to the Bellarine Table Tennis Club, the Ocean Grove Badminton Club, and community recreation groups for pickleball, soft tennis and fitness classes.

Ocean Grove Cricket Club president James Nessels said some of the facilities at Memorial Reserve were about 70 years old and in desperate need of an upgrade, so he would welcome improvements to the pavilion.

“The City of Greater Geelong have been doing some work on Ocean Grove sports infrastructure, and this is part of that activity.”

The city’s Ocean Grove Sporting Infrastructure Plan, completed in 2010 but now being renewed, proposed retaining and enhancing Memorial Reserve as an important active sports reserve, primarily catering for junior sport, with improved community open space access.

“The older parts of the reserve are the changerooms; they’re old and tired and need an upgrade,” Mr Nessels said.

“It’s not a place that’s comfortable for women players.

“At the moment, Memorial’s used as a second ground for cricket, and we’re primarily at Shell Road because the facilities are better.”