Upgrades to Melba Oval deliver players and fans an enhanced experience

Melba Oval, located in West Belconnen, north west Canberra, has received a $680,000 upgrade delivering an improved pavilion and a new canteen to ensure playing and watching sport is a more comfortable experience for both home and visiting teams.

Sporting codes to use the oval include rugby league, touch football, soccer and cricket.

ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation Yvette Berry noted “the upgrades for players and officials are welcomed and include heating and privacy screens at the entry to changing rooms, upgraded security lighting and a series of female friendly refurbishments.”

Other upgrades to the pavilion include:

• mirrors, vanities and shelving for personal items and individual toilet cubicles

• dedicated accessible toilet with foldaway baby change table

• power points for accessories adjacent to wet areas

• individual lockable shower cubicles and hygiene disposal points

• nonslip flooring.

Minister Berry added “these upgrades will go a long way to supporting community sport.

“Sport provides many benefits with physical activity, but it also helps on a social level forming new friendships as well as bringing communities together with volunteers helping to make match days a success for spectators, friends and family.

“The ACT Government is committed to community sport. In June 2024 a similar upgrade was completed to the pavilion at the Hackett Neighbourhood Oval and refurbishment work is currently underway at the pavilion at Gordon District Playing Fields after vandalism and arson attacks in the past.”

Spectators cheering on their team will also benefit with three new public toilets (two unisex and one accessible), a new water refill station, bike racks as well as a new canteen featuring a digital art wrap highlighting some iconic Canberra images.

A barbecue area is also close by that is securely caged off to allow storage and for groups to cook the traditional fundraiser brunches and lunches.

Belconnen United Sharks Junior Rugby League Club President Matt Brown enthused "we are thrilled with the much-anticipated upgrades to the changeroom, bathroom, and canteen facilities at Melba Oval.

"These enhancements will significantly improve the experience for our players, volunteers and the entire community, fostering a more welcoming, inclusive and comfortable environment for everyone in our club.

"As all sports, including the great game of rugby league, look to continue to grow female participant numbers in community sports, having more dedicated change rooms enhances our ability to make everyone feel welcome, valued and respected as they engage in junior sports in large part thanks to our new and upgraded facilities.”

Cricket ACT, Territory Infrastructure Manager, Lauren Coates added "Cricket ACT is thrilled to see these important upgrade works completed at Melba Oval, the first of several infrastructure upgrades currently in the pipeline around the ACT.

"For cricket in the Territory to continue on its current nation-leading trajectory of growth, we need to ensure male and female players of all abilities are able to compete in the best possible facilities, and we're excited to see what impact these and other facility improvements around the region will have on our great game."

The Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund made possible through Cricket Australia and Cricket ACT also helped to contribute to the upgrades to the pavilion with $25,000.

Image. Melba Oval Credit: ACT Gov