Pavilion’s sporting life officially begins

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman (front left) and City of Greater Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher (front right) officially open the Armstrong Creek East Pavilion, with Cr Ron Nelson, Cr Peter Murrihy, and representatives from the pavilion’s user groups and developer Warralily. Photo: JAMES TAYLOR

A GROWING hub for sport in the Armstrong Creek community has officially been opened.

Clubs first started using the Armstrong Creek East Pavilion, located between two sports ovals in Central Boulevard, in 2019.

The pavilion includes four flexible sports changing rooms to meet the requirements of multiple sporting codes.

It also includes umpires’ rooms, public toilets, a first aid room, a time-keepers room, a community meeting space and a social room with kitchen.

The pavilion is being used by four new sporting clubs – netball, soccer, cricket and Australian rules football – and is also available for wider community use.

The design of the pavilion was completed by Perkins Architects, which has developed several other projects in the Armstrong Creek area.

The City of Greater Geelong contributed $3.18 million to the project and the Victorian Government a further $500,000 through the Armstrong Creek Infrastructure Delivery Fund.

City of Greater Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher, councillors Ron Nelson, Peter Murrihy, Belinda Moloney and chief executive officer Martin Cutter attended the opening on Thursday last week, alongside South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman, Armstrong Creek Titans Cricket Club president Barry Mills, Armstrong United FC president Michael Parker, Armstrong Creek Sharks Football and Netball Club president Chad Dunscombe, and representatives from developers Warralily.

Cr Asher said the pavilion was the first public sporting facility in Armstrong Creek and was already well-used in a vibrant area.

“The council are really proud to support this, and I know that certainly, Cr Nelson’s been pushing hard over the years and our contribution of $3.18 million is money very well spent,” she said.

Mr Cheeseman welcomed the planning decisions that led to the pavilion’s conception and construction.

“We’re seeing as a consequence of very thoughtful decision-making made over a long period of time that today we have some fantastic communities right here,” he said.

“Part of the vision for Armstrong Creek is to have very liveable and sustainable communities, including sporting facilities.”