General News
18 December, 2023
Work begins at Brierly
WORK has begun on stage one of the Brierly Recreation Reserve redevelopment.
Warrnambool City mayor Cr Ben Blain and Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora joined forces to turn the fist sod on-site last Friday afternoon.
The redevelopment will include the upgrade of playing surfaces, installation of two full-sized soccer pitches with improved drainage, sub-surface irrigation, a new synthetic cricket pitch, LED lighting, fencing and the demolition of an old pavilion.
Council awarded the tender for the construction to Duggan Civil in November last year and it is anticipated stage one of works will be completed by the end of June, 2024.
“In October 2022 the Victorian Government, through its Local Sports Infrastructure Fund, committed $1 million for the stage one development,” Cr Blain said.
“These funds were matched by council for this very exciting project and I’m really looking forward to seeing the new facility completed. It’s certainly an exciting time for the community, particularly for the local sporting clubs including the Warrnambool Rangers Soccer Club and the Brierly Christ Church Cricket Club.”
Speaking to the crowd gathered on-site last week, Ms Ermacora said the state government was “thrilled” to be able to provide funding towards the project.
“Brierly Reserve has a long history of providing mental health services to the south west community over decades,” she said.
“Years ago, while I was on council, mental health services moved to the then new Ward 9 at the hospital and the old buildings here were demolished.
“That move triggered a need to ask the broader, local community what its hopes and aspirations were for this site. I believe in August 2012 a master plan was approved and now, some 10 years later, there’s a terrific partnership between council and the state government and we can now see works begin here.”
