Club lodges $800,000 gym plan

ST JOSEPH’S Football Netball Club will turn a former scout hall into a modern gym under recently submitted development plans.

Joeys has put forward its $800,000 plan to the City of Greater Geelong in a bid to win approval for the facility that has been years in planning.

The club has previously adapted the former scout hall into a gym and home rooms and its new proposal would demolish the existing building for a larger, fit-for-purpose venue.

Its plan would include a gym area with open space and exercise machines, an “adaptive learning space” and other amenities.

Joeys says its plan would remain within the existing footprint of the existing building and provide a new use that would benefit the wider community.

“The proposal will result in the demolition of the existing hazardous and dilapidated brick scout hall and create a new, fit for purpose gym space in the same footprint as the previous structure in line with the requirement of the Herne Hill masterplan creating longevity and flexibility in the new space,” planning documents stated.

“With recent upgrade works to the main clubrooms at Herne Hill and an ongoing works to align to the Herne Hill Mastreplan, the proposal to upgrade the existing scout hall is yet another step towards meeting these objectives.

A plan to demolish the Scout Hall for the new facility had been flagged in the 2018 Herne Hill Reserve Masterplan.

The city, as public land manager, gave its consent for the club to go ahead with its development as long as it met local, state and federal legislation and standards, and received a report from Herne Hill Reserve’s co-tenants, which includes St Peters Cricket Club.

The plans are on display until September 23.