Sporting precinct a game-changer for region
Published on 03 September 2024
The City of Whittlesea’s largest ever social infrastructure project is officially underway after the first sod was turned on the Regional Sports Precinct in Mernda.
City of Whittlesea CEO Craig Lloyd joined State Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage MP to mark the milestone at the Everton Drive site on Friday 30 August.
The precinct will feature an indoor stadium consisting of four multi-purpose sports courts, outdoor netball courts with lighting, car park, wetlands, shared paths and areas for passive recreation.
Demand for quality sporting facilities, most notably for netball but also other court-based sports, has been rapidly increasing as the City’s population has grown.
Currently, many residents must travel considerable distances outside the Municipality to play their chosen sports.
The precinct will not only provide existing participants with facilities closer to home, but also encourage new participants to take up a sport.
Mr Lloyd said the Regional Sports Precinct was an investment in the health and wellbeing of the region.
“The precinct will give residents of all ages and abilities the opportunity to play the sports they love in first-class facilities close to home,” he said.
“The City of Whittlesea is committed to helping residents live active and healthy lifestyles and the provision of purpose-built facilities is an important part of that.
“This is an exciting project that will have tremendous physical and mental health benefits for not just residents living in the north but for the whole region.”
Earlier this month, Council awarded a tender for preliminary earthworks to be carried out at the Everton Drive site in preparation for the construction of the indoor stadium and outdoor netball courts.
These works included the removal of rocks and site levelling, installation of retaining walls and creation of a wetland in the southern part of the block.
An extension of Everton Drive to create a new, traffic light-controlled intersection at Plenty Road is expected to be opened in mid-2025.
The intersection will provide motorists with safe and convenient access to the precinct and help to reduce traffic congestion in the area.
The Regional Sports Precinct is supported by funding from the Victorian Government.