Tender awarded for Baxter Park Pavilion upgrade

Warragul's Baxter Park Pavilion upgrades can commence following Baw Baw Shire Council having awarded the $1.9 million construction contract to local company, James G Morrison Building Contractors. 

The project will see the existing, outdated pavilion brought in line with current sporting standards and introduce additional female friendly facilities to cater for Baw Baw’s growing sporting clubs.  

In the lead up to the pavilion construction beginning, works to realign drainage and sewer pipes are currently underway at the site. With the contract now awarded, the second stage of upgrade works to the pavilion will begin and will deliver: 

• Home and away player changerooms and amenities.

• Officials changeroom and amenities.

• Pitch level storage shed.

• First aid room.

• Public toilets.

• Accessible public toilet with baby change facilities.

• Office space.

• Utility/cleaner's room.

• Undercover spectator viewing area.

• Accessibility improvements.

The $1.9 million investment is the second major project to be undertaken at the reserve and will complete Council’s total overhaul and redevelopment of the sporting infrastructure at the site – ensuring high quality facilities are available for the community long into the future. 

In 2021, Council funded the delivery of a $2 million upgrade to the playing surface which included a state of the art, FIFA certified, synthetic soccer pitch – a first for Baw Baw. The project included ancillary items such as compliant access ramp, fencing, playing equipment and more. 

Works to upgrade the pitch lighting and improve the car park will also be completed under a separate contract and the finishing touches to this multi-million-dollar upgrade project. 

Baw Baw Shire Council has partnered with the Australian and Victorian Governments to fund the pavilion works, with $1,970,054 received from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and $1million received from the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. 

Image top: Early works taking place at Baxter Park in preparation for the pavilion construction; Image above: The recently upgraded synthetic soccer pitch and existing pavilion at Baxter Park.Credit: Baw Baw Shire Council