Building better spaces for local sport

THERE’S no denying sports clubs are the backbone of our community, providing invaluable social connections, keeping our residents active and supporting local businesses.

In Barrabool Hills and surrounds, it’s fantastic to see our sports reserves receiving well-earned upgrades that will serve our athletes and clubs well into the future.

Works are well and truly underway on pavilion upgrades at Belmont’s McDonald Reserve. This $2.75 million project focuses on inclusivity, featuring a new pavilion designed to be female-friendly, encouraging greater participation among women and juniors.

Scope includes refurbishment of existing home change room amenities, and the addition of new female-friendly change rooms and umpires’ change rooms.

Two storage rooms will be installed to support football and cricket clubs, as well as an accessible coaches’ box.

A timekeepers’ room and storage area will also be added to the second level of the pavilion, accessible with lift access.

Once completed, this modern facility will support the South Barwon Football Netball Club and the Highton Cricket Club as they continue to grow.

This project is a true partnership. The Victorian government is contributing $2.5 million to the upgrade, and the South Barwon Football Netball Club is investing $250,000 to improve the future of sport.

The City is proud to manage the planning and delivery of this project, highlighting our commitment to ensuring fair access to community infrastructure.

It’s fantastic to see different levels of government creating meaningful partnerships with our sports clubs to deliver the best outcomes for our region’s sports infrastructure projects.

We know that better infrastructure means better opportunity for people of all ages, genders and abilities to have a go.

The McDonald Reserve upgrades are anticipated to be completed in September, which I’m sure, is music to the ears of the Highton Cricket Club ahead of the cricket season.

Nearby at Winter Reserve, works are nearing completion on pavilion and netball court upgrades.

Council has committed $830,000 to the project, alongside $1 million from the Victorian government via Sport and Recreation Victoria and a $25,000 contribution from the reserve’s local clubs.

This project involves the construction of netball change facilities including netball and umpire change rooms and amenities, a first aid room, netball office, storeroom, pedestrian crossing and pathway with safety lighting to netball and a drinking fountain.

Works on the pavilion are scheduled for completion this month.

The older playground structure was demolished to make way for the construction of the new second netball court. Works on the second court were completed in April and are accompanied by player and umpire shelters and court lighting.

This is another fantastic example of collaboration between governments and our sports clubs to achieve phenomenal results for our region.

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to all clubs involved in both projects. Projects like these don’t just happen on their own, your continued advocacy makes it possible deliver the best amenities to our athletes and teams.

Whether you are a lifelong player, a volunteer or a junior taking the field for the first time, these facilities are thanks to you.

I look forward to seeing our community make the most of these vibrant spaces for many seasons to come.

Cr Ron Nelson

Barrabool Hills ward,

City of Greater Geelong