Tara Murray
A long wait is nearly over for Sunshine Softball Association, with the redevelopment of its home at More Park, Ardeer, under way.
The association has been based at More Park since 1972.
Funding from the council and the state government, has seen work on the redevelopment start to take place.
The redevelopment includes a new fully accessible sports pavilion with a community social room, kitchen facilities and four female friendly change room facilities, along with umpire facilities, first aid, store rooms and an accessible public toilet.
The project also includes carpark upgrades, a new multi-purpose batting cage with lighting catering for softball and soccer, and the reconstruction of sports grounds.
The upgrades of the grounds were brought forward a number of years after the state government allocated $4 million for the project through Sport and Recreation Victoria.
The association’s Jo Ingram said the upgrades were well needed with the old facility a quarter of the size of the new one and the change rooms not female friendly.
“We’ve gone from one small shower room to four large change rooms and two refs rooms,” she said.
As well as having a local competition, the association plays teams from Keilor Park, Sunbury, Northern Districts and sometimes Werribee in a wider competition.
The club is hoping that the improved change rooms and facilities will help attract more females to the club.
Ms Ingram said it was hoped the association would be able to hold state competitions, having not been able to hold them the past few years due to the poor facilities.
Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic said the redevelopment would make it possible for more people to get involved in local sports.
“We are incredibly thankful to the Victorian government, and the Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence, for supporting the redevelopment of More Park, Ardeer.
“Together, not only are we building better facilities for our community, we are also stimulating the local economy through the creation of more than 100 direct and indirect jobs.”
The redevelopment will also allow a future winter sport tenant to be based at the site, creating more opportunities for the community to play sport and helping to address Brimbank’s significant demand for new sports facilities.
