Liam McNally
Ballan Recreation Reserve pavilion is now due for completion in late September, Moorabool council has announced.
The reserve is undergoing a $4 million upgrade that includes a new sports pavilion with a function room, kitchen and bar, office space, meeting rooms, storage sheds, and new change rooms.
The project was originally due to be completed last October, and when this was not met, council was aiming to finish the pavilion by May 13.
Council said the delays are due to weather and availability of trades.
The Ballan Football Netball Club (BFNC) had expressed frustration at the delays which resulted in it not using the field for home games, and constructing its own site huts for training.
Council chief executive Derek Madden said the delays in the project were disappointing but everyone was looking forward to being able to use the brand new facility shortly.
“Ballan Football and Netball Club has chosen not to use the ground for their home games this season even though they have been able to access the new changerooms for a few months, so we have been working with them to source alternate venues,” he said.
BFNC president David O’Hanlon disagreed with Mr Madden’s statement.
“BFNC met with council in late June for the potential handover of the change rooms, there was a few very minor issues to be addressed and we were told that we would have the keys in two weeks,” he said.
“Four weeks on and we still have no keys to use those change rooms.”
Mr O’hanlon also didn’t accept council’s justification for the delays.
“… A lot of the issues have come down to the council’s chosen trades. This is coming up two years in August since it was started, so using those excuses or reasons are invalid, It took three months to demolish the old building alone,” he said.
“We have a major project at the Ballan Rec reserve and I have never met nor heard from Derek [Madden] directly.”
Mr Madden said the facility will be completed in time for the cricket season.
“We understand the club has been frustrated with the delays, as has everyone involved, but we will deliver a fantastic modern facility that will carry the user groups and the community into the future, which is exciting for Ballan and surrounds,” he said.
