Great days ahead for hockey

I’m delighted to report construction is well under way on a major redevelopment of the Stead Park hockey facility in Corio.

Stead Park is a significant sports facility for Corio and is home to Hockey Geelong.

These enhancements will strengthen its reputation as a premier hockey venue and give more players, fans and families access to the sport they love, closer to home.

This is a much-deserved investment into sport and community for Geelong’s northern suburbs.

Located in Johns Street, Corio, the Geelong Hockey Centre at Stead Park has served our hockey community well for many years, but like any heavily used facility, it has needed an upgrade.

Now, through the Victorian Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program and a strong partnership between Sport and Recreation Victoria, Development Victoria, Hockey Geelong, Hockey Victoria, and the City of Greater Geelong, this important facility is being transformed.

The redevelopment will create a modern and inclusive space that supports community participation, high-performance pathways, and major events.

Key features of the upgrade include a new two-storey pavilion, located between the venue’s two hockey pitches, a redeveloped western pitch, and additional parking.

The ground floor of the new pavilion will feature four change rooms, match official’s change rooms, a canteen, equipment storage and first aid room.

The second level will feature a social space, meeting room, kitchen, and seating on the terrace overlooking both pitches.

The location of the new pavilion will give all players, including women and girls, equal access to change rooms and amenities, and will improve spectator viewing.

The redeveloped western pitch will include new fencing, drainage, an electronic scoreboard and 500 lux lighting to ensure it can host a range of local and national activities and events including national-level hockey.

Additional parking, including accessible parking along a new access road, more lighting and CCTV will enhance both accessibility and safety to this popular venue.

Sustainability has been incorporated into the design, with the project targeting an ‘Excellence’ rating under the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard.

This includes more efficient water use, as well as a 20,000-litre stormwater detention tank that will capture and reuse water for irrigation.

Junior hockey members have been involved in designing artwork to be displayed in various spaces around the Geelong Hockey Centre.

Working alongside Wadawurrung woman, artist and hockey player, Chloe Chatterton, young players took part in workshops learning about traditional Wadawurrung shapes, symbols and patterns as well as exploring what Geelong and Hockey Geelong mean to them.

Their answers sparked conversations about community, belonging, teamwork and the pride they feel representing their region and those themes are now reflected in the artwork to be displayed in the finished facility.

With construction expected to be completed later this year, the upgraded Geelong Hockey Centre will increase Geelong’s capacity to host regional and national level hockey events, bringing visitors to our city and delivering a welcome boost to the local economy.

I’d like to thank the Victorian Government, Development Victoria, Hockey Geelong, and Hockey Victoria for their vision in delivering this important community project, through the Victorian Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.

Stead Park has served as the centre of hockey in Geelong for decades, and this upgrade ensures that will continue for generations to come.

Stead Park’s upgrade demonstrates what can be achieved when community advocacy and government investment align with a clear purpose and I, like many northern suburbs residents, look forward to its official opening.