Elsie Lange
Three draft master plans for recreational hubs in Woodend, Romsey and Kyneton were released at a Macedon Ranges council meeting last week and are now open for four weeks of community consultation.
The draft plans for Gilbert Gordon Oval in Woodend, Romsey Park Sports Precinct and Kyneton Showgrounds were developed in partnership with the precincts’ relevant clubs, who identified key issues and opportunities for improvements.
Woodend Hesket Football Netball Club (WHFNC) played a key role in the preparation of the draft master plan of their home ground.
WHFNC president James Chettle said the proposal would be a great benefit to the community, especially for netball and gender equity.
“There was an original master plan, but we’ve been pushing for new netball facilities to make Gilbert Gordon both netball and football friendly,” Mr Chettle said.
“They still play at Gilbert Gordon [now], but they’re tucked up the back in the shade, in the cold.
“The [draft] master plan brings them down to the football action and supports, and closer to amenities.”
He said the most attractive aspects of the proposal were the inclusion of a new netball court and potential new social rooms, which could be used not only by the sporting community, but by everyone.
Mr Chettle looked forward to hearing residents’ take on the plan during the consultation period.
“Because Gilbert Gordon is tucked away it’s not in the public eye, it’s always good to get community input on the project. We’re pushing as a football netball club to offer the community space,” he said.
“We’re looking at upgrading for not only current players, but for future players coming through – equalising the ground for gender equity and to netball the same prevalence as football.”
The netball courts would be the first priority in the Woodend plan, with $360,000 allocated to this initial stage, Mr Chettle said
Other aspects of the Gilbert Gordon draft include a new pavilion on the western side of the oval, new netball change rooms, a new digital scoreboard, car parking improvements, cricket net changes, walking pathways and more.
The draft master plan for Romsey Park included the proposal to expand both oval and pavilion number two, develop new netball courts on the northeastern part of the reserve and turn the current netball area additional parking, develop a shared golf club/netball change room and resurfacing of tennis courts.
Netball courts, a new community pavilion, angled parking, the proposed replacement of the various existing pavilions and more were discussed during the initial consultation process for the Kyneton Show Grounds draft master plan, which is also now open for viewing.
To view the draft plans, head to council’s ‘Have Your Say’ page on www.mrsc.vic.gov.au.
