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 1 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 are complete, with planning at remaining sites well underway.
New Bulleen soccer facilities - Powerful Owl Park
New soccer facilities at 27-59 Templestowe Road, Bulleen provide a new venue for soccer clubs at Bulleen Park, as well as the local community.
The new facilities include:
- 2 natural turf soccer pitches
- 1 synthetic soccer pitch
- a pavilion with spectator seating, inclusive change rooms and public amenities, kiosk/café, social space, and club storage rooms
- sports field lighting
- 176 car spaces pedestrian and cyclist connections.