Having a ball: Multi-use pavilion opens at Mt Moriac Recreation Reserve

NETBALLERS and tennis players in Moriac and surrounds are reaping the rewards of a joint project between the Surf Coast Shire and the state government to create a new pavilion.

The $930,000 works have replaced the existing facility at Mount Moriac Recreation Reserve and constructed a new, multi-use pavilion for players at the Modewarre Football Netball Club and the Mount Moriac Tennis Club as well as the broader community.

The new pavilion includes female friendly change rooms and amenities, a social space, umpires’ room, enhanced viewing areas, kitchen facilities, administration space, first aid area and increased storage.

The project was a joint effort, with the state government contributing $500,000 through the Local Sport Infrastructure Fund, the Surf Coast Shire adding $420,000, and the Moriac community putting in another $10,000.

Modewarre Netball Club president Emily Hickey thanked the shire and the state government for their work towards the new pavilion, as well as her club and AFL Barwon

“It has been a long time in the process, these clubrooms, and it’s not just a place – it’s a really great building – it’s a space, it’s somewhere; this is what it means to us,” she said.

“It’s a great commitment towards the future of Modewarre.”

Mount Moriac Tennis Club secretary Alyson Salmon said the pavilion was the end result of a “brilliant” collaboration between the shire, the state government and the user groups.

“The tennis club’s only a small group of people, but we’re very committed to sport, and collaborating with the netball club and the football club too – this is almost the last piece of the puzzle for us.”

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman, Surf Coast Shire chief executive officer Robyn Seymour, shire mayor Libby Stapleton and councillors Rose Hodge and Adrian Schonfelder officially opened the pavilion on Saturday in a break during the netball games between Modewarre and Torquay.

Mr Cheeseman said the new pavilion would serve the community for a long time to come.

“I know wherever I go across South Barwon, I see active communities who very much want to play sport and enjoy sport, and to see this facility built here replacing what was a very old and very tired facility is a fantastic thing.”

Cr Stapleton said it was great to not only have the new pavilion built but to also see it used and enjoyed.

“It’s just a real buzz to turn up and see sport happening.

“I know community sport means a lot to the Surf Coast Shire, and this pavilion is a really great example of what can happen when community and council and state government work together.”