Redevelopment of Werribee’s Chirnside Park sports precinct came a step closer last week after the state government allocated $1.5 million for the project.
Earlier this year, Wyndham council refused to put up any of the $5.5 million needed for the redevelopment until state government funding was guaranteed. The project also has financial backing from Werribee Football Club, the AFL and AFL Victoria.
New change rooms for umpires and women, a new canteen, and an elevator to the first-floor social room are among upgrades planned for the Chirnside Park centre.
Werribee Football Club operations manager Stuart Balloch welcomed the government funding, saying the redevelopment would help establish Chirnside Park as Wyndham’s leading sports precinct.
“The new facility will offer a space that allows females to change into their sports gear, is somewhere to host youth programs, gives access for disabled people – and creates a really flexible and dynamic space that, unfortunately, we just don’t currently have,” Mr Balloch said.
Increasing participation
He said the upgrade would also help facilitate initiatives for young people from multicultural backgrounds, and females.
“From our perspective, it’s all about growing sport participation in Wyndham and strengthening partnerships.”
Wyndham mayor Peter Maynard said the $1.5 million would go part of the way towards council’s planned overhaul of the site, providing better facilities that would make it a real community hub.
The funding is part of the state government’s interface growth fund, which gives financial support to Melbourne’s fast-growing outer suburbs.
Werribee MP Tim Pallas said the Chirnside Park redevelopment was a perfect example of what the interface fund is about.
“[It supports] inclusive and welcoming community spaces that are wanted and needed by local residents,” he said.
Wyndham Aboriginal Community Centre received $1.5 million, also from the fund, to provide space for community events, strengthen cultural development and co-ordinate services for local Indigenous Australians.
A further $1.15 million will fund planning and design of a new cycling and pedestrian network in Wyndham.
