Liam McNally
The Darley Park and Community Sports Centre is facing further delay and looks unlikely to operate during the 2023 football season.
The Darley Community and Sports Centre is a $4.1 million project funded by the state government, Moorabool council, and DFNC which would provide an upgraded multi-purpose pavilion with community spaces and female and umpire change rooms.
The project began in May 2021 and was originally scheduled for completion in August 2022.
Rolling delays have resulted in completion dates being pushed back, first to May 5, then to early June.
Council announced on Facebook that the opening is now being pushed back further due to “complex” water pressure issues that may take “several months” to fix.
The announcement has dashed the Darley Football Netball Club’s (DFNC) hopes of using the pavilion for the 2023 football season.
DFNC president Mark Shelly said it’s “such disappointing news”.
“We are all very eager to start using the space which represents so much to so many,” he said.
“What these continued timeframe delays don’t illustrate is the tenacity [with] which our volunteers are having to dig deep for to keep our club ticking over and games being played.
“Hours each week of phone calls, emails, meetings, organising and time spent juggling how we can get these players playing- parents and volunteers doing their absolute best and my sincere gratitude to every single person who has been playing their part.”
The club has made temporary arrangements of portables and toilets will be necessary to keep the home ground in use.
Moorabool council acting chief executive Caroline Buisson said council is working with Greater Western Water (GWW) to resolve unforeseen water pressure issues so it can open the doors to user groups and the community as soon as possible.
“It is mandatory to have a reliable and adequate water supply to the site for fire services to access. GWW teams have been onsite to conduct testing on the water pressure issue and GWW is keeping council informed as investigations continue,” she said.
“Council will continue to work closely with the club presidents to support their continued use of the ground and any planned future events.”
GWW strategy and partnerships general manager Kessia Thomson said GWW’s engineering and field teams are working to identify the cause of the problem that was identified during an internal fire systems check.
“We’ll provide an update as soon as we have more information. We know this is frustrating for the Darley Football Netball Club and local community, who have already experienced delays in using the facility,” she said.
