Major improvements for Bon Thomas Reserve in Deer Park will begin later this year after the State Government announced $1.084 million for upgrades at the reserve.
Brimbank Council welcomed the State Budget funding towards the $1.586 million project – which will include a new asphalt car park, multi-purpose cricket nets, irrigation upgrade for the oval, and a new path network for the reserve.
Brimbank Council will fund the remaining $502,000 project cost, with work planned to begin late this year and finish by mid-2022.
The project includes a new multipurpose training facility, with cricket nets and an open section to support casual soccer, basketball, netball, and volleyball use.
The new car park will include security lighting, connecting paths and space for 100 cars.
The reserve is currently home to Sunshine Cricket Club and Deer Park Cricket Club. Once upgrades are completed, the Brimbank Bucks Rugby Union Club will also call the reserve home.
The new funding will support Stage 2 of planned improvements for Bon Thomas Reserve outlined in Council's Sports Facility Development Plan.
It builds on Stage 1 improvements, including recently completed rectangular sports grounds as well as the new sports pavilion and change rooms currently under construction.
Bon Thomas Reserve sports facilities have been underused for years by local sports clubs and schools in the Deer Park area. This upgrade will mean more people can use these local facilities, rather than travelling further afield.
Please attribute quotes to Brimbank Mayor Cr Ranka Rasic:
"Staying active and engaged in community sport is so important to Council and our community – particularly as our community recovers from the economic and wellbeing impacts of COVID-19.
"Council thanks the State Government for supporting our community through this much-needed investment.
"This development will open up Bon Thomas Reserve to a broader range of sporting and community uses, with the introduction of the multi-purpose cricket nets, which will support a diverse range of sports.
"Bon Thomas Reserve is one of the few large sporting reserves in the south or Brimbank, but it has been under-used due to the lack of supporting infrastructure on site.
"Thanks to this investment, we hope to see a significant increase in the number of schools and State Sporting Associations using the site – activating the area and supporting local businesses."
