GVL: Storm causes serious damage to Benalla Football Netball Club facilities

A country footy club continuing its rebuild after flooding last year is facing further challenges after a freak storm caused up to $100,000 further damage to its facilities.

A country footy and netball club rebuilding itself after a difficult 12 months has been hit with another blow.

Goulburn Valley league outfit Benalla is facing up to a $100,000 repair bill after a freak storm caused significant damage to its home-ground on Saturday night.

Gale force winds and rain, which some described as a mini tornado, caused two buildings at Benalla Showgrounds to be completely destroyed, leaving the club to count the cost of a horror off-season.

The latest setback comes after the same area was flooded late last year, causing damage to the playing oval.

Meanwhile in early 2022, the club launched a desperate plea for new players before it was “too late”.

“(The storm) wiped out power and took out a heap of trees,” Saints vice-president Drew Morrison said.

“One was a big pine tree standing next to our barbecue and can booth.

“It’s wiped it out in its entirety and crushed it completely.

“Our netball courtside facility was basically picked up off the ground and tipped upside down and shifted five to six metres away.

“It’s pretty well written off.”

The netball area destroyed by the storm over the weekend. Picture: Benalla Football Netball Club.

Morrison said the barbecue facility also acts as the controller for the club’s netball lights, which will now be out of action for several weeks.

Power and water has also been cut off.

The Saints vice-president said each facility would cost between $30,000 and $40,000 to replace and added this doesn’t include what could have been lost in the storm.

All the catering and cold storage in the barbecue area was destroyed.

“We’re going through now with the insurance to work out what the next steps are,” Morrison said.

“No doubt there will be a few working bees over the next couple of weeks to clear the debris and assess and look at how we can replace the booth and the sheds for the netball.”

The biggest concern right now is the netball courts and their use.

Morrison said training can continue for now with lights currently not needed thanks to daylight savings.

But as winter comes other options will need to be looked, including playing at other venues, to cater for teams if temporary or permanent fixes are not finalised by Round 1.

Morrison said the club would work with the Benalla Netball Association if needed.

The barbecue and area destroyed by the tree following a storm in Benalla over the weekend. Picture: Benalla Football Netball Club.

The added damage comes with the club still needing to fix issues from the flooding last year.

The playing field, currently used by cricket, is in need of seeding before the new season.

Morrison is confident despite a lot of work which needs to be done, the teams will be playing in round one and home games can happen.

“The playing surface is about getting a top dress on it in between the cricket and football seasons and we’ll be working with cricket to see what other windows we can get,” he said.

“We can get the maintenance done on the football playing surface.

“There’s ways to get around that (netball courts and playing) if we can’t get the courtside stuff (for netball) straight away as well.”

While insurance is set to cover most of the damage the club has already started a fundraiser to get funds for new netball facilities.

To help, head here.

If you want to help the club in other ways, or find out when their working bee days will be held, find them on Facebook under Benalla. Saints.