Western Bulldogs and Maribyrnong Council plan revamp
The Western Bulldogs have set their sights on a sport ground in one of Melbourne’s most disadvantaged inner west suburbs.
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Braybrook’s Skinner Reserve is set to undergo a multi million-dollar transformation under a joint proposal by the Western Bulldogs and Maribyrnong Council.
Councillors at Tuesday’s meeting voted unanimously to back the $3 million dollar revamp of the ageing sport hub in the heart of Braybrook.
Under the plan, the Bulldogs would gain access to the ground to use as an additional training and community hub alongside their home turf at nearby Whitten Oval.
The plan would see the current ground resurfaced, a new fence and interchange benches built, installation of a new two lane running track inside the fence line, new lighting installed to facilitate night games, improved spectator amenities and AFL standard goalposts and protective netting added.
The ground is currently home to the Maribyrnong Greens Soccer Club, Braybrook United Soccer Club and Kingsville Cricket Club.
Council staff noted in their report the ground’s current tenants backed the plan, with the Kingsville Cricket Club to permanently relocate to nearby Dobson Reserve to make way for the Bulldogs.
The council would upgrade Dobson Reserve, including its pavilion, turf wicket, lighting and playing field, at a cost of up to $4 million to facilitate the move.
The Bulldogs would use the ground up to five days a week, including three days a week from 4 to 8pm on weekdays and 8 to 11am on occasional weekends, according to a draft timetable.
The community and other sport clubs would have access to the ground at all other times.
Maribyrnong Council will foot the bill for half the project’s cost, with the Western Bulldogs to pay the remainder.
The Bulldogs and the council would also each pay half of the ongoing maintenance costs, which council staff estimated would cost the council about $50,000 a year.
Cr Cuc Lam told the council the project would improve Skinner Reserve, which is located in one of Maribyrnong’s most disadvantaged suburbs.
“The facility upgrade and the Western Bulldogs player community program will have a bigger presence than ever before in the Braybrook hub, enabling better connection with the community and the delivery of community health and wellbeing programs,” she said.
Cr Jorge Jorquera said the council’s support for the project was in principle and contingent on feedback it received from the community.
Cr Simon Crawford said the ground could still be upgraded if the community rejected the partnership with the Western Bulldogs, but not to the same extent.
Braybrook is home to a large number of low income earners and has the highest proportion of public housing tenants in the municipality as well as some of the highest rates of obesity.
Plans for Skinner Reserve were developed by the council after Western Bulldogs management asked for help to identify a second home and training facility within the municipality.
The council will undertake community consultation on the proposal.
Should the project be approved, construction at Skinner Reserve would commence in August and be completed by the end of 2021.
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