Major redevelopments of two Hobsons Bay sporting precincts have been completed, providing modern facilities for sports clubs and the community.
Spotswood's Donald McLean Reserve and Altona North's W.L.J. Crofts Reserve have undergone multimillion dollar works, providing new pavilions and the redevelopment of sports grounds and surrounds.
At McLean Reserve, the W & M Couch pavilion has been rebuilt, providing a new home for the Spotswood Football Club, Spotswood Cricket Club and Westgate Golf Club. It includes change rooms, umpires' rooms, a social space, kitchen and bar, first aid room, internal and external storage, golf shop and golf office.
Council provided $5.65 million towards the $10.5 million project, which also included two multipurpose netball/tennis courts incorporating Tennis Australia's Book-a-Court system; new turf/synthetic cricket practice nets; a full redevelopment of Oval 1, including irrigation, drainage, fencing and coaches' boxes; an irrigation upgrade of Oval 2; new LED floodlighting on both ovals; and open space and car park upgrades.
Crofts Reserve – home of the Altona North Cricket Club, Western Jets Football Club, Williamstown Superules Football Club and Agility Dog Club of Victoria – also has a new pavilion, including player and umpire change rooms, a social space including kitchen and bar, internal and external storage and Western Jets gym and meeting space.
Council was also the major contributor to this project, providing $8.2 million towards this $10.7 million redevelopment. It also included the redevelopment of Ovals 2 and 3, including drainage and irrigation; new LED floodlighting on Ovals 2 and 3; four synthetic cricket practice nets; and a new car park. An upgrade of the open spaces will begin early next year.
Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Peter Hemphill, said the upgrades were important for the sports clubs and communities.
"Community sport is an integral part of life in Hobsons Bay. It's so important for our physical and social wellbeing to have these clubs in our community," Cr Hemphill said.
"Council is proud to have contributed $13.85 million towards improving these two reserves and delivering modern facilities that will take these local clubs into a new era.
"We thank the state government for their valuable contribution to both projects, and AFL Victoria for its support of the Crofts Reserve redevelopment.
"These upgrades were identified as key priorities in 2018 and we're excited to finally share these pavilions with the community. We look forward to providing more opportunities for our residents to get involved in their favourite sports."
Photo caption: Andrew Auciello (Altona North Cricket Club), Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne MP, Sam Muir (Williamstown Superules Football Club), Mayor Peter Hemphill, Luke Williams (Western Jets), Andrew McDonald (Agility Dog Club of Victoria)
