Draft designs for redevelopment of Melville Oval Precinct now with Southern Grampians Shire Council

Southern Grampians Shire Council now has the draft detailed designs for Hamilton’s Melville Oval Redevelopment project with plans to call for construction tenders later this month.

The project has been developed with significant consultation and engagement with the local sporting clubs, associations and State Peak sporting bodies to ensure that the Precinct not only looks great, but that practicality and useability remain at the core of the project.

The designs include:

• New change rooms for players and umpires under and north of the Grandstand;

• New pavilion including Netball change rooms, umpires rooms and social rooms with commercial kitchen;

• Two new Netball courts with competition lighting;

• Undercover seating area for Netball and Football spectators;

• Upgraded landscaping of Market Place;

• Realignment of the road reserve boundary of Market Place to allow for construction of the Pavilion and Netball Courts;

• Redeveloped playground.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Bruach Colliton said the designs pave an exciting future for the Southern Grampians sporting community and notes “It’s taken a little longer than we’d hoped to get to this stage, but these designs are something we’re really proud of. The redevelopment of this precinct will help to deliver an improved user experience for keen sports people across the region while also putting Hamilton on the sporting map for Western Victoria.

“The next phase of the process will be to go out to tender later this month with the finalised designs and we are also inviting interested contractors to submit an alternative design response to ensure the project delivers on all aspects needed, whilst bringing the project within the budget.

“We know that the construction industry is still feeling the impacts of the pandemic where material and labour shortages have to be considered as part of the project, which is why through this tender process, we will ask contractors to look at efficiencies via alternative materials and design to align within the project budget.”

Council allocated $3.970 million from the Federal Government Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Grant towards the project and together with $4.043 million from the Federal Government Community Development Grant, the overall project budget is $8.28million.

Mayor Colliton added “once the tender process is complete, Council will look to award the construction contract in December with the overall project construction set to be finalised by mid-2024. Tenders will seek construction to commence early 2023.

“This project is a key deliverable of the Hamilton Central Business Area Activation Masterplan finalised in 2020. With the demolition contract for existing buildings (minus the Grandstand and Cottage) awarded earlier in the year and designs now going out to tender, we will really start to see the project gain speed and progress to implementation.”

Image: Credit: Southern Grampians Shire Council