Pavilion tender awarded

A new tennis and netball pavilion at Willow Grove has moved a step closer with Baw Baw Shire Council awarding a construction tender to Kingbuilt Homes.

The pavilion, to be built at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve, will be built at a total cost of $761,637. The tender awarded to Kingbuilt Homes was for $698,472.

The project is being funded through $710,000 from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), $71,750 from the Latrobe Valley Authority and $17,250 from council. A report to council forecast project savings of $37,000.

Other works include design and sewer relocation works.

The report said the tender included a solar power system, minor upgrades to hot water services and a provisional sum for completing additional works to ensure the completed project and building surrounds complement each other. The additional works may include paving, seating, court access improvements and landscaping.

Cr Darren Wallace said this was great news for Willow Grove.

He said it was even better that the total cost to council was $17,000.

Cr Wallace acknowledged former councillor David Balfour for all his hard work and advocacy for this project.

“This will be a facility that Willow Grove will enjoy for many years to come,” he said.

Cr Michael Leaney said this tender to a local company would result in local jobs so it was a positive story all round.

“The pavilion is nothing more than a tin shed…but they are a very active community and this is a great outcome,” he said.

Cr Mikaela Power said as a former resident of Willow Grove it was beyond their wildest dreams that this development would ever occur.

“The community has been wanting this for some time and will get full value out of it,” he said.

Officers said completion of this project will provide modern and adequate facilities for the Willow Grove community and will address the issues presented by the current facilities,” the report said.