Finally, pavilion opens

By Lachlan Ellis

‘Tis the season of pavilion launches, with the second opening event being held last Friday.

Moorabool Councillors, local MP Michaela Settle, and members of the tenant clubs all came to celebrate the completion of the Ballan Recreation Reserve Pavilion, with around 50 people in attendance.

Ms Settle thanked the community and sporting clubs for their patience, with a range of factors including the COVID pandemic, poor conditions for construction, and supply issues forcing a 12-month delay.

“This is a project that’s particularly close to my heart,” she said.

“The day after I was pre-selected to stand, Billy Smith contacted me and said, ‘we need to do something about the Ballan Rec Reserve’. So, it’s quite literally the first project that I worked on. That in itself says it’s been a long time coming,” Ms Settle said.

“I know that’s had an impact on the clubs, and I really want to thank everyone for their patience. I hope you’ll all feel like I do that it’s well worth the wait…it really is a beautiful facility.”

Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Rod Ward also acknowledged the long journey culminating in the launch event, and thanked the State Government, tenant groups, and partners who had worked together on funding the project.

“I’d like to recognise Michaela, she is an enthusiastic advocate for Moorabool, and the contribution by the State Government of $3 million has made this possible. I’d also like to thank Council officers that worked on the funding application,” he said.

“Council invested over $1.2 million in this project, and additional funding was received from Ballan Community Bank, the Moorabool Wind Farm Community Fund, and the Ballan Recreation Reserve Committee of Management, so thank you everyone for your contributions.”

Ballan Cricket Club President David Leach, Ballan Football Netball Club President David O’Hanlon, and Ballan Recreation Reserve President Peter McGregor also addressed the crowd, agreeing with Ms Settle that the new facility was “well worth the wait”.

“We’re still here, we’re still competing,” Mr Leach said.

“We’d like to thank the same funding bodies and user groups that Ms Settle mentioned, without them, we’d need a heck of a lot of pie nights to fund these rooms,” Mr Leach joked.

David O’Hanlon said “it’s been a hell of a ride, a tough one”.

“But I feel we’ve come out better at the end. To Marty Conroy and Loretta, when we had nowhere to change, shower, or go to the toilet, they stepped in and used their own money to come up with the temporary changerooms we’ve used for the last two years…we really appreciate them doing that,” Mr O’Hanlon added.

The new sports pavilion includes a large function room, kitchen and bar, office space, meeting rooms and storage sheds, while the new change rooms have four family friendly change rooms, umpire change rooms, and a tiered concourse with a fantastic view of the oval.