Plans progress for pavilion upgrade at GR Bricker Reserve
GR Bricker Reserve is one step closer to boasting a new multi-functional sporting pavilion after Council approved the concept designs, following extensive community consultation.
Council has been working closely with the various sports clubs and the dog obedience club that use the pavilion, as well as the wider community, to come up with a design that meets the needs of the clubs, and the community, now and into the future.
Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said he was thrilled to see the long-awaited redevelopment of the pavilion at GR Bricker Reserve, identified in the 2019 Master Plan, progress.
"In 2018 Council secured $3 million in funding from the State Government to develop new pavilion facilities at the reserve, Council has allocated a further $1.5 million to build this facility for the community, and we are excited to get started," Cr Staikos said.
The Reserve is home to a number of sporting and community Clubs who access the pavilion including the Moorabbin Little Athletics Club, Omega Cricket Club, the Racing Rugby Club and the Moorabbin Dog Obedience Club.
Deputy Mayor and Karkarook Ward Councillor Hadi Saab said Council have endeavoured to make sure all tenants, as well as the local community, have been able to have their say on the concept plans for the pavilion redevelopment. "We have listened to the feedback and used it to make adjustments to the both the pavilion design and the wider Master Plan implementation works," said Cr Saab.
The proposed concept plan includes:
- a new fit-for-purpose pavilion with shared social room and supporting facilities that meet the needs of each tenant club.
- an adjoining storage shed
- change facilities accessible from both the athletics track and the oval
- a dedicated indoor/outdoor space for dog club activities, and
- publicly accessible toilets.
Council will now undertake detailed design work and finalise leasing arrangements for use of the facility.
"We still have some work to do make sure our final designs capture the needs, and address any concerns, of the clubs and the community," Cr Saab said. "For example, we will be engaging an acoustic consultant to help identify opportunities for noise reduction from the pavilion and dog run, we're shifting the social room to the front of the building further away from residential properties and we're making sure the sports lighting doesn't spill into residential properties."
The cricket nets will also be retained in the existing location, minimising loss of open space and preventing the loss of any further trees within the reserve.
"It's unusual for us to design a pavilion to meet the needs of our human and canine participants, but that's exactly what we have done with GR Bricker Reserve and we are very excited to see the final pavilion built and enjoyed by everyone," Cr Staikos said.
Improved pathways and lighting will also form a significant part of the master plan improvements and are proposed for completion following the pavilion development.
