Walkerville Oval in line for an $11.25 million redevelopment of its tired Church Tce precinct
Finally, after almost 10 years of planning, Walkerville Council has unveiled its $11 million plan to breathe new life into Walkerville Oval, which includes a two-storey building with bar, gym and grandstand. SEE THE IMAGES
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New plans for an $11.2 million redevelopment of Walkerville Oval precinct have been revealed, almost 10 years after the site was first earmarked for an overhaul.
Walkerville Council agreed at its last meeting to begin consultation on plans for the tired Church Tce site.
The redevelopment would include a modern, two-storey building with a gymnasium, bar, changerooms, function space and grandstand.
The complex was first earmarked for redevelopment in 2011.
However, the council shelved the project in 2015 because it could not secure funds.
Walkerville Mayor Elizabeth Fricker said the new development would be a win for both the sporting groups and wider community, while remaining “sympathetic” to the suburb’s character.
“At the moment, it ticks all the boxes because it is not just a sports centre, it is a community centre with functional space … we need facilities for sportspeople and others,” Ms Fricker said.
The council set aside $3 million towards the project and would seek grants to fund the remainder.
“The government is saying give us shovel-ready stuff and we are trying to get to that stage in the hope we can get funding from state and federal governments,” Ms Fricker said.
A report to the council said the redevelopment was also an opportunity for the local RSL to move to the site, but that would be investigated further when plans were “refined and progressed”.
Ms Fricker said the war memorial would not be altered because it was “part of the heart of Walkerville”.
A new netball court would bring Walkerville Netball Club, which currently trains at courts on Anzac Highway, to the precinct.
Walkerville Sports Club – which includes softball, cricket and junior and senior football sides – and Walkerville Bowling and Community Club use the complex. president Mark Webber looked forward to more progress on the plan.
“These clubrooms are over 50-years-old and they are well past their use-by date,” Mr Webber said.
Clubs and community groups at the complex would first be consulted and then results would be presented to the council for consideration.
Plans would then go out for wider public consultation.