Expanded Melbourne netball and hockey facility gets official opening

New courts and pitches at the transformed Victorian home of netball and hockey have been formally opened today.

Melbourne Sports Centres - Parkville (formerly the State Netball and Hockey Centre) have benefitted from $64.6 million investment by the Victorian Government to deliver six new indoor netball courts, a new indoor hockey pitch, hot and cold recovery pools, a creche for parents playing at the centre, and a high-performance strength and conditioning gym.

With 64 lineal kilometres of timber sports flooring laid, the netball arm of the centre now has 11 indoor courts - creating greater capacity for year-round play - while the new indoor hockey court similarly provides more opportunities and pathways for players.

Designed by dwp, in collaboration with Kane Construction as a design and construct partnership, the project has also created a new northern entrance, better connecting the venue to public transport.

With Netball Victoria, Super Netball’s Melbourne Vixens, Hockey Victoria and dozens of grassroots hockey and netball teams based at the centre, the new facilities will open up the venue for more community participation, high-performance excellence, competitions and major events.

The expanded centre will also allow for more use by volleyball, basketball, futsal, badminton and table tennis players and will be home to the Women in Sport Leadership Centre.

Opened today by Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula, the remade Melbourne Sports Centres - Parkville hosts more than 500,000 players (from juniors to national representatives) and spectators each year - and 80% of all participants are women and girls.

Minister Pakula explained “this reimagined centre will benefit thousands of women and girls who come to Parkville each week to compete and hone their skills in the games they love.

“This was an ambitious project and it’s going to pay big dividends for players, clubs and supporters for many years.”

Hockey Victoria Chief Executive, Andrew Skillern added “the new high-performance facilities provide an opportunity for women and girls all around Victoria to develop, thrive and contribute to our global standings in world hockey.”

Images: Parkville Netball makes use of the facility (top, credit: Parkville Netball/Facebook) and the concept for the venue's new northern entrance (below, credit: dwp.).