New portable change rooms to be built at Cowes Recreation Reserve

New portable change rooms will be built at the Cowes Recreation Reserve as a result of the Phillip Island Football Netball Club receiving $160,000 in grants for its proposed Change Rooms Building Project.

The funding follows Bass Coast Shire Council havingsubmitted a successful application to the Victorian Government’s Country Football Netball Program and will be used for the construction of a new purpose built, multi-functional building designed to achieve a minimum 7 star rating.

Bass Coast Shire Councillor Andrew Phillips said the project will improve the quality of participation for the 175 football and netball players registered with the club.

The new building will incorporate a change room and amenities for visiting football teams, and provision of change rooms and amenities for home and visiting netball teams, as well as designed to be converted into multi-purpose meeting spaces.

Councillor Phillips stated “the existing football change rooms are sub-standard in size and there are currently no existing change room facilities for the netballers.

“The proposed project will deliver a flexible, modern community asset that will help maintain the existing football and netball participation levels by providing quality change room, shower and toilet facilities which are essential to the enjoyment of playing an active sport.

“They will also mitigate the risk to vulnerable members of the community by ensuring that a dedicated, safe and secure and fully accessible facility is provided for home and visiting netballers.”

Councillor Phillips said the project will also support and encourage participation in AFL Auskick programs, and be available for other community uses such as the popular Relay For Life events held at the Cowes Recreation Reserve.

He added “the project is a key priority in the Phillip Island Football Netball Club Strategic Plan 2013-2016.

“The Club has the capacity to contribute over $150,000 towards the project and have received letters of support from AFL Gippsland, the Alberton Football Netball League and Phillip Island Cricket Club.”

The project will be managed by the Club and Council.