Nillumbik pavilion upgrades cater for female sport participants

Victoria’s Nillumbik Shire Council has recently redeveloped two pavilions, Eltham Lower Park and the Susan Street Pavilion to cater for the growing number of females participating in sport.

The $275,000 Eltham Lower Park Pavilion upgrade is funded from Council as well as the State Government, Eltham Lacrosse Club and the Lower Eltham Cricket Club. The $275,000  Susan Street Reserve Pavilion upgrade comes from funding from Council, the State Government and Eltham Junior Football Club.

Mayor Karen Egan, who officially opened the Eltham Lower Park and the Susan Street Pavilion redevelopments commented: “Removing barriers to gender equity continues to be something Council is passionate about – but facilities need to be in sync for this to become truly effective.”

The Eltham Lower Park Pavilion redevelopment includes refurbishing four change rooms to become female-friendly and a unisex referee change room.

The Susan Street Reserve Pavilion redevelopment in Eltham includes the redevelopment of existing change rooms to create female-friendly change rooms and ambulant access, as well as reconfiguring the referee change room to include female-friendly cubicles and toilets.

Construction works are also being conducted for the new $2.3 million pavilion at Marngrook Oval. The new pavilion is forecast to open at the end of 2019 and will include four interconnected change rooms, accessible and umpire facilities.

Meanwhile a new sports pavilion was opened in Wattle Glen ready for the football season.

The $800,000 redevelopment includes two female change rooms, an umpires’ change room and ramps throughout the facility to make it accessible to all.  It means the Eltham Eagles Soccer Club, Nillumbik Junior Soccer Club and North Eltham Wanderers Cricket Club have a permanent home and can expand their women and girls teams.

Social Infrastructure chair Councillor Bruce Ranken said all four facilities would go a long way to realising Council’s goal of becoming the most liveable Shire in Australia further advising: “According to Council’s Nillumbik Health and Wellbeing plan 2017-2021, sport and outdoor recreation improves mental and physical wellness and decreases social isolation.

Wingrove Ward Councillor Peter Clarke said residents could be very proud of sporting facilities in the shire: “They will be well-used by all for generations to come.”

Council is also investing in sports facilities at:
Diamond Creek Netball Pavilion: $3.1 million
Diamond Valley Sport & Fitness Centre:$6.5 million
Eltham North Pavilion: $4.6 million
Research Park Pavilion: $3 million
Eltham Central Pavilion:$3.6 million
Eltham Tennis Courts and Lighting: $180,000
Greensborough Hockey pavilion: $2 million
Yarrambat Oval floodlights: $230,000

Image: Susan Street Reserve Pavilion redevelopment opening are (l-r) Councillor Peter Clarke, Mayor Karen Egan, Eltham Panthers club president Stewart McCallum, Deputy Mayor Bruce Ranken, and Member for Eltham Vicki Ward.