Ocean Grove sporting vision adopted

THE City of Greater Geelong has formally adopted its plan to boost sporting infrastructure across Ocean Grove, but no immediate funding is available to deliver the upgrades beyond the projects already under way.

The final Ocean Grove Sporting Infrastructure Plan, which has been more than six years in the making, received unanimous support at last week’s council meeting,

paving the way for significant redevelopment at six outdoor sporting precincts.

At the centre of the plan is the relocation of the Ocean Grove Soccer Club to a purpose-built facility at Devlins Road Reserve, a shift that would the enable the soccer pitches at Shell Road Reserve to be converted into a second oval for football and cricket, as growing demand places the existing infrastructure under increasing strain.

Ahead of last month’s federal election, Corangamite MP Libby Coker pledged $5 million toward the project, a figure the city says is $5 million shy of its funds needed to deliver the new facility.

Despite this, Cr Elise Wilkinson said it was an exciting time for sport in Ocean Grove, with works also planned for Arthur Powell Reserve, Collendina Reserve, Memorial Reserve and Wallington Reserve.

“Ocean Grove’s population is expected to grow by nearly 15 per cent by 2035. We already see that growth; it’s projected to surpass 24,000 people,” she said.

“There are many of these local sporting clubs, much of this infrastructure, that’s already bursting at the seam.”

Cr Rowan Story celebrated the adoption of the plan, highlighting its benefit to the community.

“The psychological and physical benefits, social connectedness [and] general health benefits of sport are incontrovertible, and this will materially advance those parts of our council plan and our preventative health survey results,” he said.