$1m Simms Road Oval Redevelopment Starts

 

A $1m redevelopment of Simms Road Oval in Montmorency has started with the $180,000 refurbishment of the ground underway and construction of an $820,000 pavilion to replace shipping containers imminent.

Hawdon Ward Councillor Steven Briffa said the long awaited redevelopment would increase opportunities for people to play sport, help alleviate the shortage of playing grounds across Banyule, and meet the huge demand for sporting facilities from the Montmorency-Greensborough community.

“The Master Plan for Simms Road Oval was developed with extensive community consultation. We all recognised that the redevelopment was essential to effectively meet current and future recreational needs, both active and passive, and to broaden the reserve’s use by the whole community,” Cr Briffa said.

He said he and Banyule Council had worked particularly closely with the Montmorency Junior Football Club and the Montmorency Cricket Club, which use the ground, to plan and fund the significant redevelopment.

The Montmorency Junior Football Club is contributing $50,000 to the pavilion construction and obtained a $50,000 grant from AFL Victoria, while the Cricket Club was contributing $5,000. The clubs are also covering the extra costs of scoreboards, pavilion furniture and match day equipment. Banyule Council is contributing $895,000 to the project.

The President of the Montmorency Junior Football Club, Darren Kane, said the club had 18 teams this year, 400 players and 200 families. “This redevelopment will give us a massive boost. There has been a fantastic job done by so many people to get it to this stage and it’s going to be something for footy families to be proud of,” he said.

Cr Briffa said he was as excited as the clubs to finally see work start on the ground, which was previously substandard with a very hard surface, sparse grass cover and uneven levels. New perimeter fencing will also be installed with work finished in 4-6 weeks.

“The ground renovation will dramatically improve the performance of the playing surface, with drainage improved, and the laying of couch grass which is highly drought tolerant and has excellent wear and cushioning qualities for players,” Cr Briffa said.

“This project is a great example of Council, sporting clubs and the community working together to develop a master plan to reinvigorate important sporting assets to better meet current and future needs.”

The oval was previously undersize and was therefore only suitable for junior football and cricket in lower age groups and as a training venue for senior teams. The redevelopment has seen the oval enlarged, which will enable greater use by sporting teams.

At the moment, both the football and cricket clubs use two metal shipping containers converted into change rooms and toilet facilities. “The new pavilion will provide a more suitable facility for the clubs and also support increased use of the reserve by other sporting clubs and the community,” Cr Briffa said.

The new pavilion, which will provide toilet and change facilities for sporting groups, umpires’ room, first aid stations, kiosk, storage areas, a multi-purpose club and community room and external public toilets is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

For more information visit Banyule City Council