Liam McNally
An estimated $5.66 million in upgrades will come to Maddingley Park over the next decade, following Moorabool council adopting its masterplan for the precinct.
Council adopted the plan at a meeting on Wednesday, July 5, to guide the next 10 years of the parks development.
Moorabool mayor Rod Ward said the plan attracted significant interest while on public display.
“It attracted 312 submissions which is the most of any recreation reserve master plan, such is the interest in Maddingley park, not just from recreational users but passive users,” he said.
Council is planning 24 actions for the park in the next three years, the biggest being $400,000 in new cricket nets, which will include up to four new cricket practice wickets with full length synthetic pitches.
Other first stage developments include $300,000 to upgrade the netball shed, $300,000 in playground upgrades, 80,000 to make the tennis clubhouse and courts disability accessible, and $70,000 to relocate a tennis court and make it usable for netball.
Within the next six years council is planning a $3 million upgrade to the main sports pavilion and change rooms, $360,000 to provide the pavilion better pedestrian spaces and formalise spectator parking around the southern end of the oval, and $110,000 to resurface the tennis hardcourts and address drainage issues.
Longer term, council intends to establish garden and path networks, establish a new wetland and display public art.
Bacchus Marsh Lawn Tennis Club secretary Shane Jenkins raised concern council was underestimating projected upgrade costs for tennis upgrades.
Mr Jenkins said other bodies he asked to estimate the cost of the tennis court relocation, which council estimates will cost $70,000, quoted as much as $350,000.
Mr Jenkins admitted he may have approached Tennis Victoria and Turf One with different specifications to council, however he suggested council delay adopting the plan until costings can be done in more detail.
“We feel this is an important step probably before the plan is adopted … It would be dangerous to be too far away from your indicative numbers and what your final numbers are. If they’re significantly different, they may change your design considerations,” he said.
Council officers assured that more detailed costings will be the next stage of the design process.
