A couple of weeks ago, we reported on this page about some major projects underway at Stribling Reserve. The two big projects were the installation of new lighting on the oval and the installation of a new electronic scoreboard. Well, this past week, the good news kept coming!
Naming Sponsor for Electronic Scoreboard announced
With great pleasure, we can now announce that the Lorne Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank is confirmed as the Naming Sponsor of the new electronic scoreboard. Lorne Community Bank has pledged $50,000 to secure naming rights on the scoreboard. This is a massive contribution to community infrastructure in Lorne. Lorne Community Bank has provided support to many other community organisations in Lorne and this latest donation, which enables us to fund the best scoreboard technology available, is the latest demonstration of their commitment to our community.
Last week, Lorne Community Bank, represented by Chairman, John Knuckey, Deputy Chair, John Tebbutt and Senior Manager, Jeremy Morris, countersigned the agreement together with Ken Hosking representing Lorne Football & Netball Club and Peter Spring, Chairman of Stribling Reserve Committee of Management. This is a huge milestone for our community and would not have come to realisation without the Bank’s commitment and support.
Funding for new Sports Pavilions Announced
Last Saturday, Sarah Henderson, Federal member for Corangamite visited Stribling Reserve and announced to a large gathering of community members that, in response to an application for funding submitted by the Surf Coast Shire to the Building Better Regions Fund, the Shire would receive $3.27M to assist with a major upgrade to sporting pavilions at Stribling Reserve. Surf Coast Shire has also pledged $3.27M making a total of around $6.5M available for this project.
Provision of new and upgraded facilities was recognised as a priority when the Stribling Reserve Master Plan was updated in 2017. The Reserve now serves as a centre for a range of activities far beyond what was envisaged in the 1980s.
We currently have concept designs for two new pavilions. The first will be a new netball pavilion replacing the “Netball Hut” adjacent to the court. The new netball pavilion will be quite a bit larger incorporating proper change facilities, showers, toilets and administration space. Currently Lorne fields six netball teams. On a home game day, that means sixty Lorne netball players and sixty away team players. Current female toilet and change facilities comprise one shower and two toilets! This new pavilion addresses this major issue of inadequate facilities.
The second pavilion will replace the building known as the Leisure Centre. The current building was constructed in the mid 1980s and the only major improvement since then was the installation of a proper verandah to provide shelter. Change rooms and toilet facilities are totally inadequate to meet current demand. In addition to meeting the needs of the Football and Netball Club, there is a wide range of other uses including the School, exercise and fitness classes, social events and a variety of cultural activities. The current Leisure Centre will be replaced with a two-storey building (pictured) providing toilet and change facilities compliant with relevant guidelines for regional sports. The upper level with incorporate a commercial kitchen and associated facilities and a large space capable of being configured to serve multiple purposes. The existing indoor basketball stadium will remain.
Detailed design of the new Netball Pavilion has already begun and it is expected that the construction of the new pavilions will be completed by the end of 2020.
The Stribling Reserve Committee of Management takes this opportunity to thank the Surf Coast Shire for its commitment to this exciting project which will benefit the whole community of Lorne. In particular, we would like to thank the team which worked so diligently to produce and deliver the application to the Building Better Regions Fund on such short notice. These Shire Officers, together with the Shire Executive Management Team and our Ward Councillor, Clive Goldsworthy, worked very professionally and collaboratively on this project and without their commitment, we would not have achieved this amazing outcome.
The Sponsorship Arrangement with Lorne Community Bank and the success of our funding application for new facilities at Stribling Reserve, are both testimony to very positive working relationships within our community.
Peter Spring
On behalf of the Stribling Reserve Committee of Management
