AusLeisure

The new multi-use pavilion and upgraded football (soccer) pitch have been unveiled to the community at Baw Baw Shire’s Bellbird Park in Drouin.

The new pavilion, which is home to the West Gippsland Hockey Association and the Drouin Dragons Soccer Club and a new satellite venue for the Drouin Cricket Club, delivers a female friendly multi-use community facility including:

• A commercial kitchen, audio visual equipment, flexible room configurations and access to male, female and accessible toilets.
• Four new player change rooms with access to inclusive amenities.
• Two rooms for officials with amenities.
• Storage spaces.
• First aid room.
• Office/meeting room.
• Two canteens, and
• A drop-off zone.

The facility will also provide a community events space and contribute to the implementation of plans for the Drouin Community Hub.

Construction of the new 186 space carpark commenced in January 2022 and was completed in November the same year. The pavilion commenced in March 2024 and has very recently received its occupancy permit. The football pitch redevelopment kicked off in November 2023 and was used for the first time in June of this year.

The Bellbird Park East pavilion and new carpark project is valued at $4.97 million, with a Council contribution of $2.97 million and a $2 million contribution from the Victorian Government through its Growing Suburbs Fund.

The new football pitch was also delivered thanks to equal contributions of $800,000 each from Council and from the Victorian Government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund- Female Friendly Facilities stream.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Annemarie McCabe enthused "the redeveloped soccer pitch will have amazing impacts for our local sporting clubs and as we can see, is already getting put to great use.

“The female friendly changerooms and facilities also ensure Council is contributing to equal access for all our local sporting stars.

“It’s incredible to see how far these upgrades have come since touring the site in February this year.”

Images. Credit: Baw Baw Shire Council

Related Articles

12th July 2024 - Warragul Leisure Centre stadium expansion delivers for Baw Baw Shire

28th November 2023 - Baw Baw community input sought on renewal of six playgrounds

31st May 2023 - Baw Baw Shire community encouraged to support campaign for a Culture and Connection Precinct

16th May 2023 - Baw Baw Shire invites community input on its arts and culture strategy

9th February 2023 - Baw Baw to host region’s first ever Spartan Alpine Race

22nd December 2022 - Baw Baw Shire Council endorses concept design plans for two future sports pavilions

8th October 2022 - Extreme one day multi-sport challenge returns to Baw Baw this October

4th October 2022 - Baw Baw Shire Council awards $11 million contract for Warragul Leisure Centre Expansion

29th June 2022 - Baw Baw welcomes return of Esports tournament in 2022

24th June 2022 - Baw Baw Shire Council delivers support for the local arts, culture and events industry

21st March 2022 - Baw Baw Shire’s Drouin Tennis Club celebrates upgrade of Balmoral Park Pavilion

27th January 2022 - Baw Baw Shire Council awards early works contract for Warragul stadium expansion

12th July 2021 - Baw Baw Shire Council delivers synthetic football pitch at Baxter Park

19th February 2020 - Baw Baw Council set to construct fenced dog parks

7th July 2017 - YMCA extends facility management agreement with Baw Baw Shire

30th November 2016 - Management and operation of Baw Baw Aquatic and Leisure Services

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.