Sport precinct upgrade for growing Geelong region

A NEW planning framework has mapped the future of Bell Post Hill’s prime recreation facility as a multi-sport precinct for coming Geelong growth suburbs.

The City of Greater Geelong last week adopted its Myers Reserve Masterplan to replace an outdated 2005 strategy.

The city formed the plan following consultation with user groups including Bell Post Hill bowls, cricket and football-netball clubs, Geelong Rangers Soccer Club and Covenant College. It also opened the plan for broader community consultation this year.

Priority projects include layout and traffic changes, building a second football and cricket oval, formalising an overflow oval into a proper soccer pitch and developing a new play space.

It would also move and expand netball courts and bowling greens, refurbish the existing football, netball and cricket pavilion and build new clubrooms for the soccer and bowls clubs.

The adopted plan will shift a planned new soccer pavilion to between the site’s existing pitch and a future one.

A report from the city had proposed locating the new pavilion on the southern side of the existing pitch, which would have saved the need to destroy up to 55 mature cypress trees at the site.

An amendment from Cr Anthony Aitken proposed moving the structure to service two pitches, in line with the soccer club’s recommendation. He indicated the city would commit to restoring any lost tree canopy as a result of the shift.

Cr Aitken acknowledged the masterplan was only the start of a process to implement the upgrades, with the city now required to find funding streams to pay for priority projects.

“The sad thing about adopting the masterplan is there is no funding for any of the works identified in the masterplan, but it’s our responsibility to find that with affordability going forward,” he said.

Cr Eddy Kontelj praised tenant clubs for the “amicable process” of developing the plan alongside the city.

“All clubs have worked collectively and united as a team… that has been one of their strengths.

“They’ve always worked very well together, and as a result have delivered some amazing projects over the years.

“The plan will put the community in good stead and prioritse the needs for this reserve.”

Cr Kontelj also highlighted the reserve’s future importance as a recreational hub near identified residential growth areas to the west and north, which will eventually house at least 110,000 people.