Box Hill City Oval: Labor, Liberals both commit to huge redevelopment

An eastern suburbs sports ground is guaranteed of a huge overhaul, and could host AFLW games in the future, following funding commitments from major parties.

The Box Hill Hawks and other Whitehorse sports clubs are set to benefit from a revamped Box Hill City Oval. File picture.

Footballers, cricketers and fans will benefit from a major overhaul of a prominent eastern suburbs sports ground regardless of who wins this month’s federal election.

And the president of VFL side Box Hill Hawks believes Box Hill City Oval could host AFLW games once its $19.1m transformation is complete.

Both major parties have splashed the cash to fund the oval’s redevelopment following ongoing advocacy from clubs and Whitehorse Council.

Labor announced in early May it would contribute $13.6m if it wins the May 21 federal poll.

It would allow the project to be almost shovel ready, with the council already committing up to $5.5m for the project.

An artist's impression of one of the new proposed pavilions and seating areas at a refurbished Box Hill Oval. Picture: Boxhillcityoval.com

Labor’s Chisholm candidate, Carina Garland, said the pledge was a huge win for its tenants including the Hawks and the Box Hill Mustangs cricket club.

“Ensuring that women and girls have access to the facilities they need is too important to play around with,” she said.

Labor’s pledge topped the Coalition’s commitment in late April, where it promised $7.5m funding if it is re-elected.

The Victorian Liberals have also promised $5m for the project if the party wins November’s state election.

Chisholm federal Liberal MP Gladys Liu said the announcement was “a huge win for our community”.

“It’s so important that we have the infrastructure in place to make participation in local sport easier, especially for the growing number of female players,” she said.

The oval’s redevelopment will include seating for up to 1500 people and a new pavilion on the northern side of the ground with training, administration and spectator amenities.

Its existing southern pavilion, last updated 50 years ago, will also be freshened up and repurposed to house away changerooms and facilities for the cricket club.

Box Hill Hawks president Ed Sill said the club was delighted to have received commitments from both sides of federal politics to progress the project.

He said along with VFL games, the ground could be capable of hosting AFLW matches in the future, and also used by feeder competitions and associations.

“With the moving feast that it is, depending on how it plays out, we’re sure the ground would be capable of handling ALFW going forward,” he said.

“We really want to harness the value of the facility and to do that we need to open it up to the community.
“It’s well past its prime, and we feel there’s no need to build the greatest stadium, but just a really great sporting stadium for both community and professional standards.”

Mr Sill said user groups would advocate to the state government, the AFL and Cricket Australia for any funding shortfalls depending on the result of the May 21 federal election.

“We’re really thrilled we’ve got it to this level … whatever the federal result is, people know we need to get this over the line, and that’s what we’re working towards.”

Whitehorse Mayor Tina Liu said the oval was an “ageing facilty” which needed “significant work”, and the council was proud to have recieved bipartisan support for the project.

“Regardless of the outcome of the federal election, it (the redevelopment) seems likely to proceed, and council looks forward to working with the government of the day,” she said.