Ocean Grove sports grounds in line for major upgrades

A TOTAL of 72 projects would improve sporting facilities across Ocean Grove and Wallington under a draft sporting infrastructure plan.

The City of Greater Geelong has endorsed a 10-year Ocean Grove sporting infrastructure plan to guide development for the next two decades.

The city said its existing strategy, formed in 2010, was due an update due to changing demographics and rapid population growth at the Bellarine town.

A city report indicated the Ocean Grove-Wallington population had grown 40 per cent to 17,500 people since 2010, and projected a further 35 per cent spike to 23,650 by 2041.

Key strategies include:

• Shifting Surfside Waves Soccer Club to a new home at Devlins Road Reserve in the Kingston estate
• Converting Shell Road Reserve’s soccer pitches into a second oval, creating dedicated football and cricket ovals
• Upgrades for Memorial Reserve, including its hall, and
• Developing masterplans for Shell Road, Collendina and Wallington reserves.

The strategy would also investigate a new pavilion including gender-neutral changerooms at Wallington and Memorial Reserve, and reconstructing public tennis courts at Arthur Powell Reserve.

Other existing facilities such as netball courts, cricket nets and changerooms would also be in line for improvement.

Proposed upgrades also would provide a host of smaller-scale improvements including tree planting, car parks and new scoreboards.

The city is yet to confirm cost estimates or funding models for its suite of works.

The council said increasing participation, especially for female sports, and providing improved access to public open space were strategy objectives.

“Ocean Grove’s population is growing at a rapid rate and developing communities need an adequate supply of quality facilities to support an active and healthy population,” Bellarine Ward councillor Jim Mason said.

“The plan will focus on future sporting facilities in conjunction with consideration of other passive recreational activities.

“Increased female participation rates are a key driver in the rising demands, so we want to hear from as many people as possible about the requirements for the future.

The plan opened for public comment on Monday this week and is open for six weeks.

The city intends to finalise its construction plan later this year.