Chirnside Park will finally be redeveloped, with Wyndham council committing $5.5 million to the project as part of its next two budgets.
On Monday, councillors voted to provide money in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 budgets to bring Avalon Airport Oval up to AFL and building code standards.
Werribee Football Club will contribute $1 million to the project, with the AFL and AFL Victoria providing $250,000 each.
The council will lobby the state government for $2.5 million to help build multi-purpose community and commercial spaces at the Werribee ground.
As reported by Star Weekly, the football club asked the council to provide $5.5 million in this year’s budget, but its request was denied.
Tigers chief executive, Mark Penaluna, said the VFL club had been waiting six years for Chirnside Park to be redeveloped to comply with VFL standards.
Penaluna said the club’s headquarters failed to meet basic requirements for women’s and umpire changerooms, seating and accessibility.
The ground has no dedicated women’s changerooms, no canteen and no lift to its first-floor social room, meaning disabled fans must be carried up the stairs.
Penaluna said the redevelopment would address those problems and make the ground more user-friendly.
“We are delighted. This shows the council has endorsed Chirnside Park and Avalon Airport Oval as the premier sports venue in Wyndham.”
“We just hope the state government contributes the funding we have applied for and delivers a facility that the City of Wyndham needs.”
Cr Glenn Goodfellow said the ground’s redevelopment would provide Wyndham with another community hub.
“What can come out of this is only good for the people of Wyndham,’’ he said.
‘‘This is the start of something that will be the bookend to the Werribee CBD.
“[Chirnside Park] will be an events hub where I can see more things than just football being played – things like Big Bash cricket
and soccer.”
The council will work with the Tigers and other Chirnside Park tenants to determine the project’s final design.
