Mount Evelyn sporting clubs will kick off their 2023 season in new, built-for-purpose clubrooms, with the Mount Evelyn Sports and Community Hub project officially under construction.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child and Deputy Mayor, Johanna Skelton, were joined by Federal Member for Casey, Tony Smith MP, and State Member for Monbulk, James Merlino on Friday, 4 February to turn the sod at the Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve for the project.
Cr Child said the new building would accommodate the growing clubs in town, providing better amenities for players and visitors alike.
“We know that pavilions like these are homes away from home, places where committees and club members spend countless hours, game days and training evenings,” he said.
“But we also know that the wonderful growth of clubs here in Mount Evelyn and the increase in women’s teams locally highlighted the need for a new pavilion – somewhere with change rooms for people of all genders, spaces for umpires and somewhere that the club will grow into as this new space attracts new club members.
“This new project will provide spaces built-for-purpose – places where you’ll be happy to retreat to, win or lose, and spaces for community members and local groups to meet.
“I’m proud that we’ve been able to support this project at Council with the help of the Federal Government, the State Government and incredible contributions from sporting clubs, making this $5m pavilion a reality.
“This year’s season will be tough, with the old pavilion gone and the space now a construction site, but I’m looking forward to celebrating the completion of this project in 2023.”
The project has received $1m in funding from the Federal Government and $1.9M through the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund. Council has matched the Growing Suburbs contribution and local clubs contributed $200,000.
