Millions more reasons to love sport in Frankston City
Published on 28 July 2021
In a huge win for local ratepayers, Council has been successful in its bid for funding from the State Government’s 2020 Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme.
Council will receive low interest loans of $6.25 million for the Eric Bell Pavilion redevelopment and $3 million for the Kevin Collopy Pavilion redevelopment.
Frankston City Mayor, Kris Bolam said, “These important upgrades will ensure our local clubs have female-friendly, accessible amenities and modern facilities they need to continue the great work they do.
“Thank you to State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke, for his advocacy and commitment to seeing our applications across the line.”
Mr Edbrooke said, “Frankston City Council is set to receive $6.25 million for the Eric Bell Reserve and $3 million for the Kevin Collopy Pavilion redevelopment works via the low interest loans scheme.
“I am proud to have advocated on the Council’s behalf for these projects, to ensure our local community clubs, including the women's, junior teams and umpires, have the modern facilities they deserve.”
The upgraded Eric Bell Pavilion will be used by the Pines Football Netball club and the Pines Cricket Club. As well as the loan scheme funding, Council received a $500,000 grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria to make the project possible.
Pines Cricket Club President, Brad Saunders said, “This funding is a massive boost to our clubs; it will give us security and an amazing place to call home for so many of the Pines family.”
Pines Football Netball Club President, Jeff Svigos agreed.
“Having new club rooms will present the club as a proud host of all sports. Providing outdoor toilets, women-friendly change rooms and more multifunctional event spaces gives the senior women’s football and netball teams room to grow.
“It also supports our provision of elite sporting programs for aspiring kids and cements our place as a destination club.”
Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club President, Cameron Wallace, echoed the sentiments of his Pines counterparts, saying his club was “looking forward to the benefits of the upgrade to the Kevin Collopy Pavilion as it will be a great enhancement to the current amenities for all clubs at Jubilee Park.
“The project reinforces Council's support for Jubilee Park as the South East Regional Cricket Hub. It also gives elite cricket in particular, in the South East region, a wonderful opportunity to grow female participation and high performance development with upgraded female and male change facilities, as well as improved amenities.”
Mr Wallace said the upgraded pavilion meant Jubilee Park would meet Cricket Australia’s criteria for hosting national and international fixtures, “therefore giving the Frankston City brand great exposure world-wide.”
Frankston YCW Football Netball Club President Andrew Schneider said his club was also excitedly looking forward to the Kevin Collopy Pavilion redevelopment.
Mr Schneider said the Club is experiencing rapid growth with juniors getting involved and aims to field four girls’ football teams next season.
“Hopefully we get a senior women’s team up and running in the next couple of years,” he said.
In a further coup for sport in Frankston City, exciting projects are progressing at other key locations.
Monterey Soccer Club Pavilion was demolished to make way for new facilities last month and the $4.2 million Frankston Centenary Tennis Club and refurbished Belvedere Bowls Club will open in coming weeks. Works are also underway to rebuild the new Pat Rollo Reserve Pavilion.
The Mayor said, “We invested $19.932 million to update sporting pavilions across Frankston City last financial year and there’s plenty more work underway as we continue building Frankston’s future through our $64.89 million infrastructure investment in this year’s budget.
Earlier this month the Mayor joined councillors Claire Harvey and Brad Hill, Senator for Victoria, David Van and Federal Member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy to turn the sod on an exciting, jointly funded, sports lighting project for the baseball diamond at Robinsons Park.
The Mayor said, “Frankston Baseball Club will hit a home run thanks to the new lighting; the Club currently fields nine teams – four senior and five junior teams and will go from strength to strength.”
To keep up to date with local sports project milestones, follow Frankston City Council on Facebook or visit Council’s website.
Frankston City sporting facility upgrades
Eric Bell Pavilion Redevelopment, Frankston North $6.75M (Victorian Government Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme $6.25M, Victorian Government Sport and Recreation Victoria grant $500,000)
The two storey pavilion will provide female-friendly change rooms, community social room, meeting room, change room, umpire rooms, storage, kiosk, first aid room, office and public toilets to cater for all park users.
Kevin Collopy Pavilion Redevelopment, Jubilee Park, Frankston $3M (Victorian Government Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme)
Proposed refurbishment works will include female-friendly change rooms with associated amenities.
Robinsons Park Sports Lighting Project, Frankston $370,000 (Council $180,000, Federal Government via Sports Australia $190,000)
The installation of Australian standard sports lighting (250 lux) to be installed at the baseball diamond.
Jubilee Park Redevelopment, Frankston $35M (Council $20.44M, Victorian Government $10M, Federal Government $4.56M)
This development will enable Jubilee Park to host major regional netball and basketball events and include six multipurpose indoor courts, including a 1000 seat show court, elite training facilities, female-friendly change rooms and a crèche for players and spectators and state-of-the-art cafe, community meeting and function rooms.
Lloyd Park Soccer Pavilion, Langwarrin $6.48M (Council $3.48M, Federal Government $3M)
The new senior pavilion will include four female friendly change rooms with supporting amenities, large second floor social room, first aid rooms, two umpire change rooms with supporting amenities, time keeper/media rooms, kitchen and canteens, meeting rooms able to accommodate community use.
Pat Rollo Pavilion Redevelopment $2.84M (Council $844,000, Victorian Government $2M)
This project will include two female-friendly change rooms with supporting amenities, separate social rooms, first aid room, two umpire change rooms with supporting amenities, kitchen/kiosk and meeting rooms. Work is expected to be completed in late January 2022.
Monterey Soccer Pavilion Redevelopment $4M (Council $3.4M, Victorian Government $600,000)
The new, fully accessible and female-friendly pavilion will cater to all abilities and include four change rooms, umpires rooms, a multipurpose function room, kitchen and public toilet. Works commenced last month (June 2021).
Centenary Park Tennis Redevelopment, Frankston $4.2M (Council $1.115M, Victorian Government $3M – land sale costs provided to Council, Tennis Australia $50,000, joint contribution from Frankston East Tennis Club and Frankston Tennis Club, now Frankston Centenary Tennis Club $35,000)
Works include 13 hard surface courts with new lighting and fencing and an upgraded pavilion with open social space, kitchen and bar, storage and cool room, accessible shower and public toilet, meeting room and tournament office, painting and service upgrades, new male and female change rooms and amenities, as well as car park upgrades and landscaping works. The project will be officially opened in coming weeks.
Belvedere Bowls Club Extension, $1.75M (Council $1.5M, Federal Government $250,000)
An upgrade to the existing building and extension includes a larger function room, bar and cool room, furniture and store rooms, office and match committee rooms, refurbished kitchen amenities, car park alterations and men’s, women’s and accessible toilets. The project will be officially opened in coming weeks.
RF Miles Precinct Redevelopment $9.147M (Council $3.447M, Victorian Government $2.6M, Federal Government $2.6M, Level Crossing Removal Project $500,000)
Works include a new two-storey pavilion with female-friendly facilities, larger oval to meet AFL standards, new netball courts and new cricket nets, car parking, shared user paths and landscaping
new oval lighting, scoreboard and coaches box. Works were completed last month (June 2021).