Geelong council unveils $10m upgrade to Landy Field’s pavilion

A “modern and fit for purpose” pavilion has been unveiled for the athletics hub, with planning documents showing the site’s new facilities.

Render of the proposed new pavilion at the Landy Athletics Field. Picture: Supplied

The next upgrade to Landy Field is sprinting ahead as the Geelong council unveiled a first look at the athletics ground’s new-look pavilion.

A 3D render shows off the two-storey pavilion that will feature a kiosk, office and social spaces, changing rooms for players and officials, a kitchen and bar, and a balcony overlooking the athletics field.

The building will be “modern and fit for purpose” and “will complement the existing functions of the athletics track”, according to the planning report prepared by Three Thirds Group.

The facilities at Landy Field suffered significant damage in October 2022 when the Barwon River burst its banks, putting the athletics events at risk of being cancelled.

A contractor cleaning up Landy field athletics track since after the banks of the Barwon River burst. Picture: Mark Wilson

It had long been the premier athletics venue in the region, but ageing infrastructure and damage left it in need of revitalisation.

Last year, the Geelong council said the project could no longer be “kicked down the road” because maintaining the site’s international accreditation was dependant on modernising its facilities.

The project had been put on hold in 2023 amid a budget squeeze.

Then-mayor Trent Sullivan said project had long been a priority.

“It’s absolutely imperative that we do get this sorted, that we do work with the state government to get the funding sorted,” he said.

At the time, councillors voted unanimously to nominate the project for $5m of state government funding via the council support package that was to assist areas that were to act as hubs during the cancelled 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The project received the nod from the State Government in June last year with both levels of government contributing $5m each to the $10m project.

Landy Field flooded in late 2022, leaving the facilities damaged and in need of an upgrade. Picture David Smith.

In December last year, Landy Field’s athletics track reopened following a $1.5m upgrade to replace the ageing track with a brand-new blue and grey surface.

Mayor Strech Kontelj said the track upgrade would ensure that future Olympians and Paralympians hailing from Geelong would have a place to “hone their skills” for years to come.

“Landy Field is a much-loved facility, and these works will play a significant role in helping us attract quality athletics meetings and events,” he said.

The construction of the new pavilion will require the removal of some existing trees and vegetation at the site. However, Three Thirds Group’s reports said that “all trees (with the exception of Tree 16) proposed to be removed are of low-retention value”.

Tree 16 is an Australian native, a Sydney red gum which an arborist identified as having “moderate” retention value.

The project is currently open for public comment until 9 March.

Originally published as Geelong council unveils $10m upgrade to Landy Field’s pavilion