Darley returns home but will play in temporary change rooms

Darley will return home for the first time to play this year, but not everything is in place for a triumphant return. Find out why.

Darley may be forced to use temporary change rooms for the rest of the season but as least it will be home sweet home for the club this Saturday.

The Devils will return to Darley Park to take on Redan in their first home game of the season in the Ballarat league.

The club has been forced to play away from home for the first half of the season as Darley Park’s upgrades to their facilities were completed.

The $4.1m project, funded by Darley, the state government and Moorabool Council was meant to be finished before Darley’s match against Melton on June 3.

But further delays have seen the club move their last two games against the Bloods and North Ballarat from Darley Park to Melton and Ballarat respectively.

The club, according to president Mark Shelly, had to return home despite Darley Park’s pavilion not able to be used right now.

“We made the decision we needed to play at home, regardless of what the status was with the pavilion,” he said.

“The main reason behind that is for our supporters and the community to be back at Darley.

“Also, the two previous games we were supposed to play against Melton and North Ballarat they were just flip games.

“We haven’t lost a home game by surrendering or swapping those dates.

“From this week onwards we didn’t have that luxury.

“None of these games are return games so to speak, so win, lose or draw we are playing at home.”

Shelly revealed the building is 100 per cent finished but it hasn’t been signed off yet by the builders.

The new Darley Park. Picture: Moorabool Shire Council

The issue is the fire safety standards haven’t been approved.

“Because the building is over 500sqm in size and is a commercial building it needs to have a number of fire rating aspects to it ticked off,” Shelly said.

“One of those relates to having a significant amount of water pressure and flow rate in case we have a fire.

“That’s the issue where we are at today, stopping the building from being signed off, there is not enough (flow rate) to pass that test yet.”

Shelly said the council was working hard to resolve the issue.

There are two options to get the team into the pavilion, the first is new water storage facilities are installed to bring the right flow rate to be signed off.

But it could take months for it to happen.

The other alternative is a certain part of the pavilion, the change rooms, are signed off to allow teams to use them.

It would fall under the 500sqm threshold and allow the flow rate for the water to not be needed, at this stage.

The second solution would allow the first part to be solved with no minimal impact to the club.

Nothing has been signed off yet, so the club can’t use the facilities.

Darley’s Billy Myers celebrates kicking a goal during the match against Melton. Despite facing adversities the team has been the team to beat in Ballarat. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Instead, the home and away teams will use temporary change rooms like the club used last year when games were held at Darley Park.

“We’ve got some portable marquees set up where our players will operate and get changed out of,” Shelly said.

“We’re setting one up tomorrow for the netballers as well.”

Shelly said Redan have been very accommodating to the plans and added while it is another setback to the club, the Devils will respond like they have for this season, intent to not let it impact their football.

The team is currently top with just one loss this season.

“It speaks volumes of the calibre of those at the club, including players, supporters, coaching staff and members,” Shelly said.

“The real pleasing aspects is we have our disputes internally but outside we’re as thick as thieves.

“Dan Jordan’s motto has been anywhere, anyplace, anytime.”

The senior game against Redan starts at 2.15pm.