The State Government will pour $800,000 into the construction of change rooms and floodlighting at Shirley Strickland Reserve.
Camera IconThe State Government will pour $800,000 into the construction of change rooms and floodlighting at Shirley Strickland Reserve. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Grant for Shirley Strickland Reserve could be a boon for other Melville facilities

Bryce LuffMelville Gazette

AN $800,000 grant for the construction of change rooms and floodlights at Shirley Strickland Reserve could prove a benefit to other local facilities.

The City of Melville was among 16 WA local governments and sporting clubs to secure financial support under the State Government’s Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF).

The money will be put towards change rooms and lighting, which form part of a planned $6.7 million makeover of the Ardross reserve, approved by Melville council in late 2016.

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In September Melville councillors voted to bring forward $843,000 from the City’s 2017-18 Community Facilities Reserve (CFR) to commence the detailed design process and to tender for the upgrade of floodlights.City chief executive Shayne Silcox said the latest grant would reduce the amount needed from the CFR, allowing the City to refurbish and upgrade other facilities sooner.

“Many of the change rooms associated with sporting facilities need to be upgraded to accommodate female facilities which, believe it or not, were not included when they were originally built,” he said.

The redevelopment of Shirley Strickland Reserve includes a new pavilion, new picnic and playground facilities, a fitness path, an expansion of the lower rectangular field to accommodate a new cricket wicket and parking upgrades.

The latest grant is in addition to the $710,000 from Lotterywest, to go towards non-sporting aspects of the upgrade including a nature playground and barbecue area.

The City plans to use more than $5 million from the future sale of the Mt Pleasant Bowling club, which will be transformed for housing and a park, to help fund the Shirley Strickland Reserve project.

Dr Silcox said an acquisition proposal submitted to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) in December was still under assessment.

“While the City is pre-funding the redevelopment from the CFR, we are counting on the net proceeds of the sale of the Mt Pleasant Bowling Club land,” he said.

“This will allow the City to reimburse the reserve for that expenditure, enable refurbishments to be funded for other sporting facilities or even allows the establishment of new facilities as well.”

Dr Silcox said the City was likely to tender for architectural services as part of the detailed design process for the Shirley Strickland project this month.

“The sporting clubs are currently being engaged with regards to the use and functionality of the new pavilion,” he said.

Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray said the $9.4 million handed out for 16 projects under the CSRFF would boost sporting facilities, create jobs and new opportunities for local businesses.

“These new projects often require work from local small businesses, which helps create jobs in the suburbs and the regions – ensuring we are not only keeping communities fit and healthy, but growing employment opportunities throughout WA,” he said.

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