A majority of City of Stonnington Councillors have endorsed works to begin on the implementation of a Masterplan for Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park in Malvern East.
This Masterplan includes park upgrades for casual users, new facilities for Chadstone Bowls Club, Chadstone Lacrosse Club, Chadstone Tennis Club and East Malvern Tooronga Cricket Club and a new four court indoor sporting facility,
This follows an independent investigation into alternative sites for indoor courts that identified Chadstone Shopping Centre and Holmesglen Institute's Chadstone campus as being potentially suitable. During subsequent discussions with Chadstone Shopping Centre and Holmesglen Institute, it became clear that neither site is able to enter into an arrangement that meets the needs of Council and the community at this time.
City of Stonnington Mayor, Cr Kate Hely, said it's time to get on with a long overdue investment in community sporting facilities to create participation opportunities for girls and women.
"The Masterplan for Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park was informed by extensive consultation with the community and sporting clubs.
"The four court indoor sporting facility will provide much needed community opportunities for basketball and netball.
"Stonnington currently only has two indoor courts for netball and none for basketball, compared to the 13 needed to support our population. This is a long overdue investment in sports with a higher female participation rate and our netballers and basketballers have waited long enough.
"The Masterplan was shaped by consultation with the community and clubs, including hundreds of responses that informed the initial draft developed in partnership with a stakeholder group with resident representatives.
"The project will create over 1,000m² of additional publicly accessible open space in Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park, with over 130 new trees replanted to replace approximately 70 removed to enable construction. There will also be over 200 car parking spaces created for sporting and casual users.
"I'm also pleased we have the opportunity to upgrade facilities for the Chadstone Bowls Club, Chadstone Tennis Club, Chadstone Lacrosse Club and East Malvern Tooronga Cricket Club as part of the project.
"There's also an economic benefit from projects like this as we rebound from COVID, with over 100 construction jobs created through the works and then ongoing full time and casual opportunities in the operation of the indoor facility. Local businesses on Chadstone Road will also see a benefit from the increased visitation.
"Works are expected to start in early 2022 and take approximately two years to complete. The majority of Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park will be accessible throughout the works with the worksite fenced off.
"We will work with clubs to find alternative sites while seasons are impacted and keep residents updated as construction details are confirmed," added Cr Hely.
After the Council meeting, Prahran Netball Association said:
It's been a long time coming! This is a great outcome not only for our netball community and girls' sport, but also for many sporting groups in Stonnington. It is a positive step forward to providing equal access to facilities for the major sporting codes of netball and basketball. And, importantly, it is a positive step in creating a quality facility and recreational area to support the health and wellbeing of a diverse range of community members within the City of Stonnington.
To learn more about the project, view the Masterplan or see responses to frequently asked questions visit stonnington.vic.gov.au/ptmp.
Investigation into alternative sites
On 3 May 2021, Council endorsed an independent review of additional potential sites for indoor sporting courts.
This review identified Chadstone Shopping Centre and Holmesglen Institute's Chadstone campus as the best two potential options, with both recommended for additional investigation. Importantly, this review also reinforced Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park in Malvern East as the most suitable Council owned site and third best suited overall.
Explaining this investigation into Chadstone Shopping Centre and Holmesglen Institute, Cr Hely added:
"Late last year Councillors asked for an independent review of additional potential sites for the indoor sporting courts facility.
"This request expanded the parameters of previous studies that have only focussed on Council owned sites to now include a number of alternate sites, including privately owned property.
"The review identified Chadstone Shopping Centre, Holmesglen Institute's Chadstone campus, and Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park as the most suitable sites.
"Importantly, the review reinforced the findings of earlier investigations that Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park in Malvern East was the most suitable Council owned site.
"After discussions with both Chadstone Shopping Centre and Holmesglen Institute, it became clear that neither site is able to enter into an arrangement that meets the needs of Council and the community at this time.
"I thank management of both Chadstone Shopping Centre and Holmesglen Institute for working with Council in good faith to explore the viability of developing a community facility in partnership with us.
"I hope to be able to discuss potential partnerships with strong community outcomes with them in the future," added Cr Hely.
