Projects to enhance Ararat’s active corridor
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A rock-climbing wall, multi-purpose ball-sport court, safety lighting, walking paths and new netball courts are just some of the improvements for the corridor between Alexandra Oval and the Ararat Skate Park, in a combined project worth $2.26 million.
Four separate developments are being managed simultaneously as one project and include:
New netball courts and an upgrade of Alexandra Oval’s Olver Stand to include female amenities; Building of several new events spaces around Alexandra Oval; The installation of safety lighting throughout the gardens and skate park; and, New walking paths, a multipurpose court and a rock climbing wall at the Ararat Skate Park.Work will start with the netball courts, with designs being finalised now and construction to begin in the coming months. Work on the other projects will begin at various stages with all work completed by June 2020.
Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said the Council will contribute $781,000 towards the project with the balance coming from State Government grants.
Council has already received a $750,000 grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria, $500,000 from Regional Development Victoria, and $231,000 from the Department of Justice.
“The benefits of this project are going to be enormous for the whole region as this area attracts people from right across our Shire with football and netball players, sportspeople, families, young people and visitors using the space regularly,” he said.
“The precinct also attracts sporting clubs from outside our region, and tourists from all over Australia, so it’s really important for us to improve facilities there.”
The new netball courts and associated upgrades to the Olver Stand to include female and family friendly change-rooms and toilets aim to increase women’s participation in sport.
Dr Harrison said the new lighting in the gardens and at the skate park will reduce criminal activity and increase community safety, and the new events spaces at Alexandra Oval will attract more festivals and events.
“The new multipurpose court at the skate park can be used for basketball, tennis and other sports, and the rock-climbing wall offers another a new activity for our community,” he said.
A workshop consultation with key stakeholders would take place later this month with a number of items still negotiable during the draft design stage.
Dr Harrison said those items include the design of the safety lighting, the surfaces on the multipurpose and netball courts, the design of the rock-climbing wall, and the layout of the Olver Stand amenities.