Millgrove sporting clubs will kick off their 2023 season in new, built-for-purpose clubrooms, with the Millgrove Pavilion project officially completed.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child was joined by member of the Yarra Valley Soccer Club, on Saturday, 22 April to open the redeveloped pavilion which coincided with the Clubs 20th anniversary.
The project, which began in 2020, was designed in partnership with the Yarra Valley Soccer Club and Warburton-Millgrove Cricket Club to meet the current standard for sporting facilities and provide a space for the community to connect.
The redevelopment includes the relocation of the pavilion closer to the pitch, four new change rooms each with separate amenities, a change space for referees, the installation of six new lighting poles and an extended undercover viewing area at front along with new access roads to the existing gravel car park.
A flexible design for the pavilion means the four separate changerooms can be merged via collapsible interior walks to form one large community hall if required – serving as an emergency shelter in the event of bush fire or natural disaster.
President at Yarra Valley Soccer Club, Andrew Ronalds, said that despite COVID, the club has been bucking the trend and experienced exponential growth over the last couple of years.
"The last two years we have bucked the trend with our numbers really going up and so now we have nine teams which is more than we've ever had."
"Having purpose-built facilities bathroom in each changeroom will really help us support our growing members and the new lighting is a game changer. On Saturday we actually had all nine teams playing throughout the day with our ladies soccer team playing from 5pm onwards under the lights."
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Councillor Jim Child said the new building would accommodate the growing clubs and provide better amenities for players and visitors alike.
"We know that pavilions like these are homes away from home, places where committees and club members spend countless hours, game days and training evenings," he said.
"But we also know that the wonderful growth of clubs here in Millgrove and the increase in both men's and women's teams locally highlighted the need for a new pavilion – somewhere with change rooms for people of all genders, and somewhere that the club will grow into as this new space attracts new club members and spectators.
"This new project will provide spaces built-for-purpose – places where you'll be happy to retreat to, win or lose, and spaces for community members and local groups to meet.
"This project is worth almost $2 million, and I'd really like to thank Sport and Recreation Victoria for their support, and to our local clubs for their advocacy, their patience and their enthusiasm – all of which made this project a reality."
Throughout the development Council worked closely with local suppliers sourcing timber from the Mill in Millgrove and stone from the local quarry.
