Peanut Farm Reserve revamp delivers boost for female sport

A massive redevelopment at a popular sports hub in St Kilda has been unveiled and it’s levelled the playing field for women and girls.

Rachel Beams, Maddison Andrews, Albert Park state Labor MP Martin Foley, Port Phillip Mayor Dick Gross, Alex Vanderwaal, Sarah Black and Nick Adams. Picture: Norm Oorloff

The future is female in St Kilda thanks to a $3.1 million boost to women’s sporting facilities.

The upgraded pavilion at Peanut Farm Reserve includes four unisex change rooms, showers, toilets and a kitchen.

Other works included transforming the netball courts into multipurpose courts, improving lighting and paths and a wheelchair-accessible community barbecue.

The ground is home to several sporting clubs, including St Kilda Football Netball Club, St Kilda Sharks Women’s Football Club, Elwood Cricket Club, St Kilda Junior Football Club and Melbourne Hellenic Cricket Club.

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St Kilda Sharks president Tasma Ritchie said the upgrades had “put a real focus on making the space better suited to female participation”.

“(It) is a win for our club and the clubs we host,” she said.

“It’s great to have the same access to facilities male players have enjoyed for years.”

Port Phillip Mayor Dick Gross said he hoped the project would encourage people of all ages and abilities to stay active.

“There is tremendous demand for local female sport, so transforming the precinct now is a great way to encourage casual and competitive players of today and tomorrow, no matter their gender,” he said.

The council tipped more than $2 million into the project, with the State Government forking over $1.1 million.