By Alesha Capone
Werribee Cricket Club will be forced to find a new home under Wyndham council’s $20.35 million proposed upgrade of Chirnside Park.
The draft masterplan for the park, released last week, includes a proposal to relocate cricket “offsite” and recommends building a new cricket facility in the East Werribee Employment Precinct,
which would be capable of supporting the demands of large spectator crowds.
Wyndham mayor Mia Shaw said the Chirnside Park masterplan would be implemented in stages, across the next 10 years.
Other proposals in the draft masterplan include adding a circuit path around the football oval, plus installing new spectator ‘hardstand’ areas; an undercover spectator viewing area; players, coaches and officials shelters; ticket booth; public toilets and a plaza area.
The proposed upgrade also includes replacing the lawn bowls’ north turf green with an undercover synthetic green, to allow year-round use, and building a new bowling pavilion. The existing pavilion would be demolished to make way for a carpark with approximately 42 spaces.
Wyndham’s sports development portfolio holder, Cr Peter Maynard, said the draft masterplan called for concrete surfaces at two of Chirnside Park’s tennis courts to be replaced with synthetic surfaces.
“This will allow Werribee’s budding tennis champions to serve an ace on both hard and soft courts, a necessary skill if they ever go on tour,” Cr Maynard said.
Other ideas outlined in the draft masterplan are:
– Creating new areas to accommodate up to 500 temporary seats during events.
– Realigning the Werribee River Shared Trail away from existing trees, upgrading lighting and widening the path to at least three metres.
– Investigating options for the Werribee & District Angling Club to refurbish or redevelop its existing building “to activate the area adjacent to Bungie’s Hole for the whole community”. New “nature play area facilities” are also proposed near Bungie’s Hole, which was used for swimming during the early 1900s.
– Enhancing the Werribee River and Bungie’s Hole with weed removal, bank stabilisation and re-vegetation.
“Council wants to celebrate Bungie’s Hole as a welcoming place to unwind and socialise, potentially through outdoor seating and landscaping,” Cr Shaw said.
“Werribee may be changing – with the population on track to reach 90,000 by 2041 – but this master plan will ensure Chirnside Park continues to be a key community gathering place for years to come.”
Werribee Cricket Club was contacted for comment.
Public consultation on the draft masterplan will end on December 20, see theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/ for details.
