Gerald Lynch
Donnybrook continues to develop with stage one of the Olivine Recreation Reserve officially opened.
Whittlesea council and property developer Mirvac worked collaboratively to get the project off the ground.
The $4.5 million sports and community pavilion is a key feature of stage one, alongside netball and futsal courts, cricket nets, a dog park, barbecue areas, and a playground.
The northern wing of the pavilion houses a multi-purpose community area, while the southern wing includes change rooms and amenities for cricket nets, netball courts and future Australian rules ovals.
The buildings are fully electric, with solar panels capable of supplying 100 percent of the expected average daytime use.
Stage two, which includes the construction of two ovals, is expected to commence in the coming months.
Mirvac general manager Elysa Anderson said the new sports precinct is an important part of community and they hoped it would provide a home for local sporting teams and community groups.
The precinct features an internal shared path network connecting the Pavilion to other amenities, including fitness stations, respite areas, and a fenced-off leash dog park.
The landscaping, inspired by 200-year-old red river gum trees and completed by landscape architects MDGLA, incorporates indigenous and drought-tolerant native tree species.
