More people are set to enjoy exercise, sport and spending time outdoors at Yarra Bend Park, with works starting at Corben Oval to restore power to the community sporting pavilion.
The much-needed repairs will install a new power connection along Yarra Bend Road and upgrade the Corben Oval Pavilion, to bring life back to the facilities for visitors and sports users.
Corben Oval, located on Wurundjeri Country, is used by school sporting teams and local soccer, football and cricket clubs for practice and competition sport. The pavilion provides changerooms for the sporting groups and a public toilet for people visiting the reserve.
However power to the site has been disconnected since 2019, due to a significant fault in the electrical power supply line. As a result, the pavilion, toilet block, lighting and barbecues in the Loop Picnic Area can't be used.
Civil works will be completed over the coming months to provide the access and infrastructure needed for high voltage electrical works to be undertaken by supply authority, Jemena. Low voltage works can then be completed by Parks Victoria to service the Corben Oval Pavilion, toilet block and Loop Picnic Area once again.
Pictured above: Corben Oval pavilion.
The project has been made possible by a $1.6 million investment from the Victorian Government, and has already delivered repairs to the pavilion roof, a new drinking fountain and upgrades to the building's stormwater drainage early last year.
The upgrades are being delivered in consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Heritage Victoria, to ensure cultural heritage is managed appropriately if discovered during works.
A range of new sporting and visitor facilities are being delivered at Yarra Bend Park, to provide more opportunities for communities in Melbourne's north to connect with nature and get involved in community sport.
Pictured above: New barbecues, drinking fountains, shelter, picnic tables and toilets have been built at Studley Park.
Nearby at Fairlea Reserve, eight new netball courts and a shared-use pavilion have been built, providing a great base for training, social netball, and competitions.
Down the road at Deep Rock, planning is underway to deliver improvements to the pavilion, so that local sporting clubs can enjoy more modern and inclusive facilities.
And for nature lovers looking to explore Yarra Bend Park, new and improved pathways, picnic tables, barbecues and visitor shelters have been delivered across Studley Park and Loop Picnic Area, as part of the Urban Parks Active Wellbeing Program.
