Council, community and the State Government gathered on Friday, 28 November, to turn the sod on a new sporting and community precinct in Seville.
State MP for North Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing, joined Chandler Ward Councillor, Gareth Ward, Council staff and community members from the Seville Community House and sporting clubs, to formally launch the construction of the Seville Community Precinct.
The precinct includes a new community and sporting pavilion, which will be home to several sporting clubs, and the community house, who will be based in the building as a full-time tenant.
Cr Ward said the project would be the first time a community house had permanently taken up tenancy in a shared community and sports facility in the Yarra Ranges.
"We think the community house will make a brilliant addition to this precinct," he said.
"Replacing this much loved but outdated facility, built in the 1970s, will deliver fit-for-purpose spaces for our local community groups, while providing the wider community with a place to learn, engage with other locals and forge friendships.
"I'm sincerely thankful to the State Government for their generous support of this project, and to Seville Community Precinct Incorporated who contributed funding alongside Council to make this new facility a reality.
"I look forward to welcoming the community to the opening."
The upgraded facility will have new changerooms for umpires and players of all genders, more storage, accessible amenities for people of different abilities, a dedicated office space for the community house and multi-purpose community rooms.
The Seville Community Precinct will benefit the Seville Community House, along with the Seville Football/Netball Club, Seville Cricket Club, Seville Junior Football Club, Seville Tennis Club and Seville Junior Netball Club.
The State Government provided $5 million in funding through its Community Sport and Recreation Grants, while Seville Community Precinct Incorporated contributed $150,000 to the project cost. Council funded the remaining $1.34 million.
Construction is expected to be ready for the start of the 2027 football/netball season.
