Lions’ $2.815m den officially opens

LEOPOLD’S football, netball and cricket clubs unveiled their new $2.815 million facilities during an official opening at the weekend.

City of Greater Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood joined Bellarine MP Lisa Neville to celebrate the completion of the final stage of the Leopold Memorial Reserve pavilion and netball court upgrade on Saturday.

The $2.815 million redevelopment was completed in three stages.

Stage one included two new floodlit Rebound Ace netball courts, netball and umpires’ change rooms, office and storage area.

Stages two and three included new social and community spaces, entrance and kitchen as well as refurbished football and cricket change rooms and new gymnasium.

Mr Harwood said Leopold was a thriving community with a strong sporting culture and many well-supported teams, so it was critical that its sports facilities continued to grow and meet the demands of the local community.

“It’s fantastic to see the long-term Memorial Reserve upgrade delivered with improved facilities for the football, netball and cricket clubs.

“This is a terrific example of sports clubs, volunteers, state and local governments and business working together to deliver new infrastructure for the community.”

The redeveloped clubrooms are now referred to as “the club”, which is the new home for all of the Lions, including the football, netball and cricket clubs.

The project was funded by the City ($1.115 million), the Victorian Government through the Community Sports Infrastructure Fund ($1.5 million) and Country Football and Netball Program ($100,000) as well as a Leopold Community Bank grant of $100,000.