Bigger pavilion on way for Ben Kavanagh Reserve

KINGSTON Council has approved an expanded new pavilion at Mordialloc’s Ben Kavanagh Reserve to provide a base for St John’s Ambulance and offer improved facilities for local sports clubs.

Council last night approved an extra $250,000 contribution to the $4.17million project, which is expected to be funded in the upcoming 2016/17 Budget.

The project will transform Ben Kavanagh Reserve with an expanded community sports pavilion, improved fencing, playground make-over, extra landscaping and car park improvements.

Original plans for a single storey pavilion were expanded following calls from the sporting clubs for expanded facilities and the opportunity to co-locate St Johns Ambulance on the site.

The Mordialloc Sporting Club will contribute $150,000 funding towards the project plus $50,000 in kind including commercial kitchen equipment.

Mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley said the changes will upgrade the well-used reserve to ensure it meets the needs of residents and sports clubs for years to come.

“Council is committed to providing quality parks and sporting facilities for the community and these upgrades will breathe new life into this much-loved local reserve,” Cr Bearsley said.

Ben Kavanagh Reserve is home to a wide range of local sports groups including the Mordialloc Sporting Club, Mordialloc Super Rules Football Club, Mordialloc Junior Football Club, Mordialloc Football/Netball Club, Mordialloc Cricket Club, Mordialloc Bowls Club, Longbeach Petanque group and other community groups.

The project includes:

• a new state-of-the-art multi-use double-storey pavilion featuring expanded social areas, change rooms, storage, plus space for umpires and medical staff
• new exercise stations, multi-purpose sports court and improved walking paths
• a refreshed fully-fenced playground area
• new electronic scoreboard plus improved seating and lighting
• extra trees and landscaping to improve visual amenity
• construction of a large stormwater pipe to address flooding issues in McDonald Street
• update of rain garden to treat and harvest storm water
• retention of a large mahogany gum tree.

First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 13 April 2016