WORK STARTS ON NEW BURB’S SPORTS PRECINCT:
WORK on the Armstrong Creek sports pavilion started at the weekend, with Western Victoria MP Gayle Tierney breaking ground at the site.
“The pavilion will deliver a much-needed public sporting facility for Armstrong Creek, providing important physical and social infrastructure for the growing community,” Ms Tierney said.
The pavilion will serve two sports fields, with a carpark on the northern side and netball courts in the south.
It will also have a playground, public open space, pathways connecting to external trails and landscaped areas.
The State Government is contributing $500,000 to the project and the City of Greater Geelong is contributing $3.18 million.
Ms Tierney said she was proud to partner in the project’s delivery and it was “critical we plan the appropriate community infrastructure for people of all ages”.
“Once complete, this new pavilion at Armstrong Creek will provide residents with opportunities to keep fit, build friendships and feel part of a team — as well as give our local clubs the facilities they need to grow and prosper,” she said.
The next stage of Leopold Football Club’s $2.6 million overhaul is also underway, after an official sod-turning event at Memorial Recreation Reserve on Friday.
Stages two and three of the upgrade include an extension and redevelopment of the main pavilion, featuring new social and community spaces, entrance and kitchen.
Football and cricket change rooms will also be refurbished and a new meet- ing space and gymnasium will be built.
The council’s director of community life, Linda Quinn, welcomed the latest progress.
“Leopold is a thriving and rapidly developing community and the new sports facilities will provide much-needed improvements that will benefit players, officials, supporters and the public,” Ms Quinn said.
“We’re thrilled to partner Leopold football, netball and cricket clubs and the Victorian Government to further improve Leopold’s sports facilities.”
Bowden Corporation will start work next month and the development is expected to be completed in March next year.
Stage one of the upgrade was completed last year and included two new floodlit, Rebound Ace netball courts, netball change rooms and new umpires’ change rooms.