General News
14 June, 2024
Turf rollout underway at Brierly
TURF is now being laid as stage one of the Brierly Recreation Reserve Redevelopment approaches completion.
Approximately 19,500sqm of turf will be laid on the multi-use playing surface, which will function as a cricket oval in summer and two soccer pitches in winter.
The species being used is Santa Ana Couch – the same grass as Reid Oval as well as a host of other premier sporting facilities such as the Adelaide Oval, Junction Oval and Ikon Park.
Around the ground, footings for new light towers have been completed, with the towers to be assembled and installed in the coming days.
A fence to help prevent balls from straying onto Aberline Road is almost complete, and the eastern coaches’ boxes have been installed.
This follows the installation of the sub-surface irrigation and drainage system which was completed in May.
“We really are in the home straight with stage one of Brierly,” Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain said.
“The grass is going in, the light towers aren’t far away, and the irrigation and drainage is finished.
“Separating the electrical contract from the main tender has saved ratepayers money, and the project will still be finished on time by the end of this month.
“And while the ground might look ready by then, it’s important that we give the turf enough time to establish itself, so the fencing will remain up for the time being.
“But come cricket season, I’m really looking forward to seeing the ground in action with the merged Brierly Christ Church and Wesley Yambuk cricket clubs, and then it will be just as exciting to see Warrnambool Rangers move to their new home in the winter sports season.”
Cr Blain thanked the Victorian Government for its $1 million investment in this project via the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.
With stage one of the redevelopment nearly finished, council is now ramping up planning for stage two.
“The next step at Brierly is the community centre, which will have a sports pavilion with female-friendly and accessible change rooms for players and umpires, storage and a shared social space for the tenant clubs as well as a community hall with a kitchen and meeting rooms,” Cr Blain said.
“Beyond that it really is a blank canvas, and we’ll be guided by the community as to what it would like to see.”
