The City of Greater Geelong, alongside the Victorian and Australian Governments, marked the beginning of Stage 2 of the Drysdale Sports Precinct with a sod turning ceremony on Thursday 11 December 2025.
The $14.5 million project at Belchers Road, Drysdale has been six years in the making. It will deliver a new multi-use pavilion, a soccer pitch with LED lighting and players' shelters, plus extensive earthworks and landscaping.
Council contributed $6 million to the project with co-funding of $5 million from Sport & Recreation Victoria, as well as $3.5 million from the Australian Government for design, planning and earthworks.
In attendance was Murradoc Ward Councillor Rowan Story AM, RFD, Leopold Ward Councillor Trent Sullivan, State Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant MP, Federal Member for Corangamite Libby Coker MP and representatives of the Drysdale Soccer Club. Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Melinda Kennedy led a Welcome to Country.
The pavilion will feature change rooms for players and referees, a first aid room, office, canteen, kitchen, social space, and storage.
The project also provides car parking, upgraded road access, improved water storage facilities, landscaping, and accessible pathways.
Brand Architects will lead the design, with the construction tender awarded to Plan Group. Works are scheduled to begin soon.
Stage 1 was completed in 2018, delivering an oval, multipurpose field, cricket practice pitches, a relocatable pavilion, and lighting for local sporting clubs. The precinct is home to the Drysdale Soccer Club and also used by the Drysdale Hawks Football Club and Drysdale Cricket Club.
Murradoc Ward Councillor Rowan Story AM, RFD
This project has been long awaited, with three levels of government working together, so it's exciting to see it progressing.Once completed, this precinct will be a great asset to the community and provide excellent modern facilities.
Leopold Ward Councillor Trent Sullivan
This will become a vibrant recreation hub for the Bellarine Peninsula and be a place that sporting clubs and families can share and enjoy.It will also open the door for sports competitions and events to be held there, which will boost local businesses.
State Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant MP
I'm thrilled to see Stage 2 of the Drysdale Sports Precinct underway.This investment will support our growing community with high-quality facilities that encourage participation, strengthen local clubs, and promote healthy, active lifestyles across the Bellarine.
Federal Member for Corangamite Libby Coker MP
This precinct will be a legacy for the many community members and advocates who have worked hard to bring it to fruition – it's so exciting to celebrate such a significant milestone for the project with works now underway.With a soccer pitch, new pavilion, and so much more, the Drysdale Sporting Precinct will be a real gamechanger for our communities on the Bellarine.
Paul Rawson from Drysdale Soccer Club
When I first joined the club in 2009, we had around 35 members. We had no clubrooms, no pitch, and used to roll out some moveable goals on the Shell Road oval to play our games.Today, we have 350 playing members – of which 30 per cent are female – a total of 29 teams, close to 300 Junior Boys and Girls, and just over 60 senior players.
The new facilities will bring fantastic opportunities to continue the growth of our game and the club.
