First stage of Lorne’s showcase sporting facility officially open
Published on 01 April 2021
Lorne’s brand new netball pavilion officially opened today with the soon-to-be-built main pavilion also starting construction this week as part of the Stribling Reserve Pavilion’s Redevelopment Project.
Featuring modern contemporary facilities, including new change rooms and amenities for home and away teams, an accessible toilet, an office, first aid/trainers’ room, umpire amenities and storage, the new netball pavilion can also be used by the wider community as a space to hire.
Surf Coast Councillor Gary Allen said he was delighted the netball pavilion was now a feature of the town and was pleased to see construction had officially begun on the main pavilion with the turning of the first sod at the site.
“The Stribling Reserve Pavilions Redevelopment Project has been a wonderful example of partnership between the Lorne community and the Council to ensure residents and visitors can enjoy Lorne’s premier community hub,” Cr Allen said.
“I’m very pleased this new pavilion provides great support, in particular to girls and women currently participating in netball, and will help attract new participants.
“Now with the turning of the first sod on the main pavilion build, we’ll soon be providing even more opportunities for Lorne locals and the wider community to participate in the kinds of activities that bring a town together, including sports, community events and meetings.”
Sustainability is set to become one of the key credentials of the main pavilion build, thanks to an $86,000 grant received from the Victorian Government through Sustainability Victoria’s Sustainable Infrastructure Fund. The build will include recycled materials in the surrounding decking and furniture.
Surf Coast Shire Council has matched this amount, bringing the investment in recycled materials in the facility to $172,000. This investment will be the largest of its kind by local government on the Surf Coast and will feature approximately 280m2 of decking, walkways and outdoor furniture using recycled composite timber products.
Chair of the Stribling Reserve Committee of Management Peter Spring said incorporating recycled materials into the facility was a win for the community as well as for the environment.
“Right from the design stage we’ve been keen to present a showcase facility for Lorne,” Mr Spring said.
“The extensive decking will look fantastic and is going to be one of the highlights. The fact it will be in recycled materials keeps maintenance to a minimum and will be an example of some of its capabilities. I hope it will prompt people to think: ‘Maybe I should be using it at my place?’ It’s a win all round.”
Stribling Reserve is home to the Lorne Football Netball Club, Lorne and District Men’s Shed and provides recreation and activity space for students from the adjoining Lorne P-12 College and the wider community.
Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said the redeveloped Stribling Reserve would provide a wonderful facility to the people of Lorne.
“Backed by more than $3.2 million from the Morrison Liberal Government, the redeveloped Stribling Reserve will be a wonderful asset for the Lorne community,” Senator Henderson said.
“With the completion of a new netball pavilion, I am delighted that netballers will at last have a home.”
Senator Henderson said she was also pleased that construction is underway for the redeveloped main pavilion, which will feature a new second level, modern community spaces, commercial kitchen and upgraded amenities.
“These projects are so important for our national economic recovery from COVID-19 – they create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities,” she said.
The total project funding of $6.5 million for the new pavilions includes $3.275m received from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund, and $3.275m from the Surf Coast Shire Council, including a $500,000 community contribution.
The funding received through the Sustainability Victoria grant will be added to the total project budget and will assist in achieving enhanced outcomes for the community and the environment.