A plan outlining a $7 million “broad vision” for the next decade of development of the Wallace Recreation Reserve has been noted by Moorabool council.
The Wallace Recreation Reserve is the primary community open space in the broader Wallace and Springbank district, used primarily by the Springbank Football Netball Club (SFNC).
The reserve contains an oval, netball court, multipurpose court, two pavilions, a CFA building, playground and other infrastructure to support the SFNC and other user groups.
At a Moorabool council meeting on Wednesday, April 3, the Wallace Recreation Reserve Masterplan was tabled, outlining the next decade of development and improvements for the reserve.
The masterplan report said that in the reserve’s current form the oval surface deteriorates quickly in rain, the main pavilion has functional constraints including no netball or umpire change rooms, the playground is in need of upgrades, current parking is “largely ad hoc” and the road is narrow and contributes to congestion.
The document suggests 20 upgrade projects that it estimates will cost about $7 million.
The six highest priority upgrades are rebuilding the oval playing surface and converting the floodlights to LED, resolving the flooding issue, extending and upgrading the pavilion, relocating the reserve equipment and maintenance shed, installing a new playground and modifying the CFA building.
The medium priority projects include installing a new oval perimeter carpark, a separate new 80-space carpark with drop-off zone, upgrading the netball court including a LED floodlight conversion, a new enclosed bin store, widen the reserve entrance road, installing a new ticket box, new boundary planting along the Eastern fenceline and installing a new septic system.
The plan lists low-priority projects as installing a centre wicket and practice nets, widening the oval perimeter road and upgrading the asphalt tennis-netball courts and converting the floodlights to LED.
Moorabool councillor Rod War commended the user groups of the Wallace Recreation Reserve for “seizing the initiative to prepare this master plan”.
“I think it gives a very clear direction for the users at the recreation reserve and sets out a plan to attract funding required for identified key projects,” he said.
