Recycled seating a winner at Stribling Reserve

Bench spectator seating made from recycled products has proven an easy sell on several levels as part of Lorne Stribling Reserve Pavilions Redevelopment.

The Project Control Group installed more than three tonnes of recycled composite material on seating, decking and walkways during the upgrade of community and netball pavilions.

The product has drawn praise from all quarters for its appearance and low maintenance attributes, and patrons have been happy to pay for the privilege of reserving their own spaces on the sustainable seating.

Stribling Reserve Community Asset Committee chairman Pete Spring said the project funding initially provided for only one of three bays of benches.

“In order to raise the funds necessary to have the extra two bays supplied and installed, we came up with the concept of a seat on the bench, where people contributed money to reserve a space which would be identified with a plaque,” Pete said.

“It proved very popular and we sold over 130 plaques, which gave us the necessary funds for the two further bays. The seats were installed the week before our first home game and we have received lots of praise for how it looks and how comfortable they are.”

The seating contains 94 per cent plastic and wood shavings that would otherwise have gone to landfill.

The Victorian Government provided $86,061 towards the pavilions redevelopment through its Sustainable Infrastructure Fund.

Council contributed $3.2 million and the Australian Government $3.2 million. The Lorne community has raised $650,000 for the project.

The project is being hailed as having set a new standard for Council in sustainable product use, and supports Council Plan environmental leadership ideals to increase use of recycled materials.

Sustainability Victoria is elevating the project through its Buy Recycled Service channels, as a positive case study encouraging other councils and organisations to consider using recycled products.

Find details and video highlighting the project by visiting sustainability.vic.gov.au and searching for Stribling Reserve.