A local football netball club is taking a shortage of training space into its own hands.
Gisborne Football Netball Club will construct a second netball court at Gardiner Reserve to cater for its vast numbers of players.
The club’s offer to construct the court for Macedon Ranges council was last week accepted by the council.
Club president John Wood told the council meeting on May 23 that, when completed, the court would be handed over to the shire.
Mr Wood said the court was particularly needed for netball training, with five teams from the club presently training on the one available court.
“We see this as a real necessary piece of infrastructure,” he said.
Mr Wood said the new court would support female participation by increasing capacity.
He said the club wanted to make Gardiner Reserve the sporting hub of Gisborne.
Construction of the court will be supervised by council officers to ensure building and safety standards are met.
An officer report to council estimated the court would cost the club about $150,000.
It said the council had been advised that a contractor was ready to begin construction. Gardiner Reserve is currently used by three sporting clubs and a total of 16 netball teams.
