Ararat corridor redevelopment plan
Arock-climbing wall, multipurpose ball-sport court, safety lighting, walking paths and new netball courts are among $2.26-million in improvements underway in an Ararat Skate Park and Alexandra Oval corridor.
The four separate developments are happening simultaneously under the umbrella of one project.
The project includes: • New netball courts and an upgrade of Alexandra Oval’s Olver Stand to include female amenities; • Building of several new events spaces around Alexandra Oval; • Installation of safety lighting throughout the gardens and skate park; • Walking paths, a multipurpose court and a rock-climbing wall at the Ararat Skate Park.
Work will start with the netball courts, with designs being finalised and construction scheduled to start in coming months. Work on the other projects will begin at various stages and will are scheduled for completion by June 2020.
Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Dr Tim Harrison said the council was contributing $781,000 towards the overall development with State Government grants making up the balance.
He said the council had already received a $750,000 grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria, $500,000 from Regional Development Victoria, and $231,000 from the Department of Justice.
“The benefits of this project are going to be enormous for the whole region,” he said.
“This area attracts people from right
“The new multipurpose court at the skate park can be used for basketball, tennis and other sports, and the rock-climbing wall offers another new activity for our community,” – Tim Harrison
across our shire with football and netball players, sportspeople, families, young people and visitors using the space regularly.
“The precinct also attracts sporting clubs from outside our region and tourists from all over Australia, so it’s really important for us to improve facilities there.”
The new netball courts and associated upgrades to the Olver Stand to include female and family friendly change-rooms and toilets aim to increase women’s participation in sport.
Dr Harrison said the new lighting in the gardens and at the skate park would reduce criminal activity and increase community safety, and the new events spaces at Alexandra Oval would attract more festivals and events.
“The new multipurpose court at the skate park can be used for basketball, tennis and other sports, and the rock-climbing wall offers another new activity for our community,” he said.
A workshop consultation with key stakeholders will be later this month, with project elements still negotiable during a draft design stage.
Dr Harrison said these items included the design of the safety lighting, surfaces on the multipurpose and netball courts, design of the rock-climbing wall and the layout of Olver Stand amenities.