We know that strong sports clubs help to build a strong sense of community. That’s why we’re investing millions of dollars into upgrading sports grounds and facilities in Melbourne’s northern and eastern suburbs, to keep local clubs playing and thriving during construction and beyond.

More than 20,000 players from 34 sporting clubs and associations will benefit from an initial $68 million investment to help upgrade sporting facilities while North East Link gets built.

Three new pavilions are complete and one upgraded to provide additional change facilities, with an additional 3 new pavilions to be built by 2027. New facilities will give football, soccer, cricket and tennis clubs with better grounds, improved lighting, and female-friendly change rooms.

We’re committed to minimising the impact on sporting and recreation facilities and we’ve been working closely with clubs that will need to relocate to new grounds, either temporarily or permanently. We’ve worked in collaboration with local councils, sports leagues and state sporting associations, schools, and landowners, to determine the best places to deliver these upgrades for the greatest community benefit and to ensure they are set up for success well into the future. The outcomes of the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process also helped to determine where the investments were made.

Major upgrades to Ford Park, Binnak Park, Greensborough College and Veneto Club have been completed, with planning at remaining sites well underway.

Planning and Construction

Glen Waverley Sports Hub

Glen Waverley Sports Hub, which includes the existing Glen Waverley Golf Course and the new regional tennis centre, it will include:

  • 18 International Tennis Federation (ITF) standard courts
  • LED floodlighting on all courts
  • consolidation of existing golf buildings to create a multi-use pavilion with change rooms, public amenities, kiosk/café, social space, and club storage rooms
  • general amenities, including drinking fountains, bench seating, shade, and outdoor gathering spaces
  • a significant upgrade to the intersection of Waverley and Jells Roads
  • car parking improvements.

Given the loss of the Boroondara Tennis Centre, the State will contribute $21million to the tennis infrastructure and intersection upgrades for this site.

Status

The intersection upgrade was completed in late 2022. Construction for the Sports Hub commenced in late 2022 and completion is expected in early 2024.

Templestowe Road Soccer Facilities

The Templestowe Road soccer facilities in Bulleen will provide relocation for the soccer clubs displaced from fields 4 and 5 and Oval 1 at Bulleen Park.

Upgrades include:

  • pavilion with change rooms, public amenities, kiosk/café, social space, and club storage rooms
  • 2 natural turf soccer pitches
  • 1 synthetic soccer pitch
  • sports field lighting
  • carparking
  • ecological value area
  • pedestrian and cyclist connections.

Status

Site investigations will happen in February 2023, with construction to follow through 2023 and completion expected by mid 2024.