Progress at Stawell park

Stawell’s North Park clubroom redevelopment has taken a leap forward with Northern Grampians Shire Council contracting a builder to take on the multimillion-dollar project.

Council awarded the construction contract to BLR Provincial Construction for park upgrades including multi-sport, female-friendly and unisex change rooms.

Stawell Recreation Advisory Group members said they could not be happier with the news and praised how great the sporting precinct’s development would be for the whole community.

Group member and Swifts Football Netball Club president Ian O’donnell said the new facilities would make the whole of Stawell proud.

“It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the great work of the council and the contributions from the state and federal governments as well,” he said.

“It has been a combined effort of everyone working together and it’s a great thing, a great thing for everyone.”

Fellow advisory group member and former Stawell Warriors netball coach Lynne Jenkinson said the new building would be great for sports participation for all residents.

“It’s wonderful it’s happening, especially for the Swifts netball teams and the inter-church netball competition,” she said.

“It’s going to have change rooms and dedicated facilities for women’s sport so it’s really good for the whole community.

“We are hoping this development will help to continue and even increase the great rates of sport participation we have here in Stawell.”

Grants including $700,000 from the State Government, $500,000 from the Federal Government, $150,000 from Swifts Football Netball Club and a contribution by the Northern Grampians Shire

Council have funded the upgrades.

Mayor Murray Emerson said a construction timeline and project scope would be defined in coming weeks through discussions with the builder.

He said further consultation would also take place with user groups and neighbouring properties to discuss the project’s implementation with an aim to minimise the impact on surrounding properties and existing users of the precinct.

He said the council would consider community feedback regarding site work parameters, site access, parking and time restrictions on project operations.