Jennifer Pittorino
The Altona Hockey Club (AHC) is likely to receive a long-awaited $250,000 for a complete refurbishment of the centre.
Hobsons Bay council’s proposed capital works program for 2023-24 proposes to provide the Altona Hockey Club with an initial amount of $280,000 for the ‘initial design phase’ which comprises major upgrades to the sports pavillion.
Councils’s proposed budget states the refurbishment will include a complete redevelopment of the Altona Hockey Pavilion and construction of a junior hockey pitch, to support hockey participation within the municipality.
For over 15 years, president Alex Tyrell, along with other members of the AHC, has been actively engaged with the council on the development of plans and sport strategy documents.
The centre is over 40 years old and has been requiring renovations since at least 2007.
In 2007 the AHC identified the redevelopment of the pavilion as a serious issue and commissioned an architect to design a potential new facility.
Mr Tyrell said the proposed plans included a refurbishment of both the male and female club rooms, the training rooms, an additional hockey training pitch and other general upgrades.
“We are after an internal renovation, a pitch replacement, new concreting pitch surrounds and electrical work like new lighting,” he said.
“An additional hockey pitch will allow us to have more people training at once plus the opportunity for more kids to join our club,” he said.
The next community consultation will be on Sunday, May 14, where any changes will be locked in and finalised.
