Maribyrnong council’s Henry Turner South Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment received a special commendation from Parks and Leisure Victoria at the Community Facility of the Year Awards.
Council said the recognition highlights its commitment to community engagement, sustainability, and innovation in creating accessible and inclusive spaces for all.
The redevelopment project was completed by replacing the original pavilion at Henry Turner South Reserve in Footscray, which council said addressed the need for modern, flood-resistant facilities, while meeting the diverse needs of the community.
Maribyrnong mayor Cuc Lam said the new multipurpose pavilion embodies council’s dedication to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community.
“We are honoured to be recognised with this commendation, which acknowledges the collaborative effort and dedication by all stakeholders involved in this project”, she said.
The project, with a total cost of $8.3 million, was co-funded by the state government and includes modern, universally designed facilities catering to all ages and genders, four large change rooms with gender-neutral amenities, a commercial kitchen and large multipurpose community social space, enhanced spectator seating and accessible public toilets, improved connectivity to existing amenities such as tennis courts and Victoria University Footscray Park Campus.
Environmentally sustainable design elements, include solar panels and stormwater harvesting as well as flood-resistant design, in partnership with the local water authority to mitigate flood threats.
