Strathfieldsaye hub overhaul progresses

THE second stage of the Strathfieldsaye Community Hub redevelopment is scheduled for completion – and for the facility to be operational – next month.

Planning for stage three of the City of Greater Bendigo project is well under way.

Stage two includes redevelopment of the remainder of the hub building, including facilities to support a relocation of the bowls club and Scouts from their existing locations.

Stage three will involve a multimillion-dollar overhaul of the Strathfieldsaye Recreation Reserve in Club Court.

The city recently sought community feedback on a draft precinct plan which aims to improve the area through landscaping, pedestrian accessibility and amenity, additional external sporting infrastructure and car parking improvements.

A final precinct plan is being worked on now and remains unfunded, but the city will consider a prioritised implementation plan for funding in its 2024-2025 budget for staged delivery across several years.

The community hub project is in line with the 2009 Strathfieldsaye Town Plan, which identified the need to develop a community precinct and make more efficient use of existing infrastructure.

Proposed works as part of stage three include the renewal of existing lawn bowls and cricket club buildings to create spectator areas, storage, kiosk and communal/breakout spaces.

Other works include additional storage requirements for community groups not already included in the hub building, the creation of a network of pedestrian paths for access to and throughout the reserve, landscaping and tree planting, and unstructured recreation facilities such as a fitness station, a multi-court and circuit paths.

Stage one works, which cost more than $1 million, focused on providing female-friendly facilities to enable user clubs to cater for growing numbers of female sports participants and umpires.

It was funded by the City, a $100,000 Sport and Recreation Victoria grant and contributions from Sedgwick Cricket Club and Colts United Football Club.