Excitement is building among Baw Baw’s local basketball and netball clubs as work on the $11 million Warragul Leisure Centre expansion project reaches a significant milestone.
On Friday 11 February, the sod was officially turned as construction of the stadium extension began. To mark the occasion, Council, community members representing the Project Reference Group, member for Eastern Victoria Region Harriet Shing MP gathered to celebrate the progress and reflect on the collaborative approach that has steered the project – one that has seen the project go from concept on paper to concrete on the ground over the past three years.
The project will deliver much needed infrastructure for the growing Baw Baw Shire community, particularly for the sport of basketball, which boasts the highest numbers of participation of any sport in Baw Baw. The completed project will see the:
- Construction of two new indoor (basketball/netball) courts
- Spectator seating and lounge viewing area
- New cafe and kitchen
- Referee change room
- First aid room
- Storage facilities
- Swim club store
- Public amenities including Changing Places accessible change room
- Improved pedestrian and parking access links between new and existing facilities.
PRG representative and Association Development Officer at Basketball Victoria, Jarryd Moss sees the stadium expansion as an opportunity for the Warragul Leisure Centre to become the home of Warragul and District Basketball Association.
“The association is made up of over 2000 members that includes volunteers, staff and board members, with memberships only set to grow over the next few years” says Jarryd.
“This will help the association streamline their operations in order to continue delivering opportunities for all members of the Baw Baw Shire community to be involved in basketball.”
Having secured the tender for major works, locally based company Kubale Constructions have been on site undertaking construction works including slab pouring, steel framing, external cladding, roof completion and floor installation as part of the expansion project.
Baw Baw Shire Council has committed $5 million towards the project with the balance made possible by a $6 million contribution from Victorian Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program.
