By Matthew Sims
Hobsons Bay council representatives and local sports club representatives have officially unveiled the completed works at Spotswood’s Donald McLean Reserve and Altona North’s W.L.J. Crofts Reserve.
The $10.5 million Donald McLean Reserve works, which included a rebuild of the W&M Couch pavilion change rooms, which included umpires’ rooms, a social space, kitchen and bar, first aid room, internal and external storage, golf shop and golf office, providing a new home for the Spotswood Football Club, Spotswood Cricket Club and Westgate Golf Club.
Hobsons Bay council provided $5.65 million towards the project, which also included the installation of two multipurpose netball/tennis courts, new turf/synthetic cricket practice nets, a full redevelopment of Oval one including irrigation, draining and fencing works, irrigation upgrades at Oval two and new LED flood lights on both ovals.
The home of the Altona North Cricket Club, Western Jets Football Club, Williamstown Superules Football Club and Agility Dog Club of Victoria, the $10.7 million redevelopment to the W.L.J. Crofts Reserve included a new pavilion complete with player and umpire change rooms, a new social space including a kitchen and a bar, internal and external storage and a Western Jets gym.
Hobsons Bay council contributed $8.2 million towards the project, which also included the redevelopment of the second and third ovals, including new LED flood lights, four synthetic cricket practice nets and a new car park, with upgrades of the open spaces scheduled for early next year.
Hobsons Bay mayor Peter Hemphill said the upgrades would support those who play and spectate community sport.
“It’s so important for our physical and social wellbeing to have these clubs in our community,” he said.
“Council is proud to have contributed $13.85 million towards improving these two reserves and delivering modern facilities that will take these local clubs into a new era.
“We thank the state government for their valuable contribution to both projects and AFL Victoria for its support of the Crofts Reserve redevelopment.”
