Community update

Bulleen’s new soccer facilities are now complete with three new pitches and a new pavilion.

The new sport precinct provides facilities for all ages and genders, and ample spectating areas for all three fields. Bulleen residents and hundreds of local soccer players can now make use of the new facilities.

Powerful Owl Park at 27-59 Templestowe Road caters to a range of competitive games with exciting new features such as enclosed player benches to provide protection from weather, electronic score boards, and modern sports field lighting to allow for use in the evening.

And it’s not just for soccer players. Powerful Owl Park also features walking paths to the Yarra River and barbecue facilities for the whole community to enjoy.

What's in a name?

Powerful Owl Park is named after a large owl species found in the Yarra River corridor. The new pavilion is called Balit-mukmuk Pavilion, after the Wurundjeri translation of Powerful Owl.

The synthetic pitch is now the Dino Negri Field after a prominent community member with ties to the site of the new facility. Balayung Field and Waa Field are the Wurundjeri names of the 2 natural turf pitches, meaning “bat” and “crow" respectively.

New landscaping

It’s hard not to notice the vast quantities of new native plants and trees including Golden Wattle, Spotted Gum, Native Violets, Coastal Rosemary and Tussock Grass. The Red Spotted Gum, a feature of the original area, has been protected and remains in place near the Balit-Muk- Muk Pavilion.

Getting there

The soccer facilities also include a new 176-space car park, with an upgraded intersection at Rosemont Drive and Templestowe Road providing improved safety when entering and exiting the precinct by car.

A new pedestrian crossing and footpath on Templestowe Road will improve access to the facility by foot.

North East Link Sports and Recreation program

Powerful Owl Park has been delivered in addition to a $68 million investment by North East Link Program to keep local sports clubs thriving during construction. Across the north east, 19 sports grounds have been upgraded with improved playing surfaces, field lights and six brand-new accessible pavilions that include female change rooms. This includes new and upgraded facilities at Ford Park, Binnak Park, and Veneto Club.

Development Victoria worked in conjunction with North East Link to manage the delivery of Powerful Owl Park. Construction was undertaken by 2Construct and with works complete, the facilities will now be managed by Manningham Council.