Gerald Lynch
The Mernda Regional Aquatic and Sports Centre development has taken another step forward with concept designs for the stadium and outdoor netball courts released.
At the March 19 council meeting, the council released the designs and provided an update on where plans for the stadium currently sit.
The plan put forward features four indoor courts and four outdoor courts suitable for netball and basketball, and is fit with ample car parking for a large capacity. The plan said the delivery of an additional four outdoor courts will be subject to the public tender process.
The plan focuses on having an integrated network of buildings and a parkland precinct, while fitting in with the local context and draw on the history of the side. There will be a wetlands included in the design.
The council said currently 60 per cent of netballers in the area have to travel outside the municipality to play and train.
Administrator Peita Duncan said it was pleasing to see the project come to its final stages.
“The team has put in a lot of work around design and also community consultation, as well as making sure we have scope in the future to build more than the four indoor and up to eight outdoor courts,” she said.
“It is exciting to see this keep going.”
Administrator Christian Zahra said the precinct planning was extremely important for the community.
“This is a big moment for an important project that has been championed by great many people for longer than we’ve been involved on this council,” he said.
“We have to acknowledge their advocacy and support in advancing this over a long period of time.”
The council will soon tender an early works projects package that will come back before council in August. A construction contract award forecasted for the first half of 2025.
The project has sourced $10 million of state government funding for the courts and stadium, with a further $10 million to come further down the line when an aquatic facility is set to be built.
The facility will be on Plenty Road in Mernda, north of Bridge Inn Road.
