Bayside Council to spend millions upgrading ‘worst VAFA ground in the state’

WOMEN’S footy will be the big winner when Bayside Council completes a multimillion-dollar upgrade of an appalling Elsternwick football ground. Here’s how the ground will be transformed.

WOMEN’S footy and other Bayside community sports will get a supercharged boost when work on a multimillion-dollar upgrade of Elsternwick Park Oval 2 is completed at the end of next year.

The council has already begun work on its $3.3 million upgrade of the oval dubbed the “worst VAFA ground in the state”.

It will be revitalised with a new pavilion, the installation of cricket nets and lighting, and improvements to the playing surface.

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The project also means co-tenants Elsternwick Amateur Football Club — which shares the ground with Elsternwick Cricket Club — will finally be able to field a women’s footy team.

Club president Mike Convery said the upgrade was a “long time coming”.

“We can’t wait — it’s been 30 years since our pavilion was built so you can imagine how outdated it is,” he said.

Elsternwick FC captain Julian Yeatman with club president Mike Convery and footballer Emmie Frederico. Picture: Norm Oorloff

“This is fantastic news which means will can finally look at putting a women’s team on the field in 2020.”

The oval will be renamed the Holmes-Todd Oval, for the late Barry Todd from the cricket club and the late Graham Holmes from the football club, following consultation between the council and the two tenants.

Installation of the new lighting began last month while work on the playing surface and the pavilion will begin in 2019.

Bayside Mayor Laurence Evans said upgrading the oval was “ranked as the highest priority” for the council.

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