Bayside College sporting redevelopment officially open

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Local schools and sporting clubs in Hobsons Bay will hit the ground running this year, as revamped sporting facilities at Bayside College’s Williamstown and Paisley Campuses are opened.

Hobsons Bay City Council Mayor Jonathon Marsden and Melissa Horne MP (Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Ports and Freight, and Minister for Fishing and Boating and Member for Williamstown) unveiled the $6.73 million dollar redevelopment project on Friday 15 January.

Supported by a $2.1 million dollar investment by the Victorian Government, the redevelopment is a collaboration between Council, Bayside College and local community sporting groups.

The projects cement Council’s focus on investing in the health and wellbeing of the Hobsons Bay community and comes at a critical time for local school and sporting communities, after the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Completed upgrades at Bayside College Williamstown include a refurbished sports pavilion, ovals, and netball courts with flood lighting and irrigation upgrades, allowing training to extend into the evenings ahead of a busy cricket, football and netball season.

Additionally, the Williamstown campus now boasts three additional tennis courts with 350 lux competition grade floodlighting for vibrant night games. The facilities are set to become a hub of activity, hosting training and competitions for the Williamstown Junior Football Club, Williamstown Cricket Club, Willi Tigers Netball Club, Williamstown Football Club and Bayside Tennis Club year-round.

Upgrades unveiled at Bayside College Paisley Campus include redeveloped sportsgrounds to allow for community club use after school hours and a new pavilion with female-friendly amenities, ensuring accessibility for all teams and sporting codes.

The new fully-fenced rugby fields and synthetic cricket pitch are lit up with 100 lux floodlighting, ready for twilight training sessions and night games. The oval will be kept in good condition using a sustainable, water-wise irrigation system that features a 130,000 litre in-ground tank to catch and reuse subsurface irrigation water. The Paisley Campus will be home to the Powerhouse Junior Rugby Union Football Club, supporting their pre-season, training and match day activities.

Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hobsons Bay Cr Jonathan Marsden

“After the challenges of 2020, it is wonderful to be able to unveil these brilliant new facilities and celebrate the culmination of three years of hard work by all involved.

“Our schools and sporting clubs are at the core of our community. Keeping kids active and engaged is a critical investment not just in their physical health, but also their ongoing mental health and wellbeing.

“On behalf of Council I would like to extend my thanks to the Victorian Government for their support and $2.1 million dollar investment in the Hobsons Bay community.

“Getting the kids of Hobsons Bay outdoors on the field or court, jumping for rebounds and marks and lunging after aces isn’t about creating the next superstar. It’s about encouraging everyone to have a go and find a way to get moving that they enjoy. I’m looking forward to seeing these facilities become a thriving hub of activity for years to come.”

/Public Release. View in full here.