Sport
15 February, 2024
Courts to be resurfaced
MORTLAKE Recreation Reserve is set for a further upgrade with works set to begin on two courts ahead of this year’s netball season.
As Western District Newspapers reported in November last year, the resurfacing of the courts had become a much-needed project as player safety had become a growing concern.
Moyne Shire Council will be undertaking works to install acrylic court surfacing of two courts at the reserve.
One court will be a dedicated netball court, while the other will be marked for both tennis and netball.
Moyne Shire mayor Ian Smith said the updated courts were sorely needed, with deteriorating court surfaces creating slippery conditions for players.
“The new court surface will bring the facilities to the standard recommended by Netball Victoria,” he said.
“The upgrade from asphalt to a modern acrylic coating will make the courts safer, they will dry quicker after rain, and will lower court temperatures between five to seven degrees.
“They will help the recreation reserve attract finals for local leagues and provide a safe and modern surface for local teams who use the courts.”
Mortlake Recreation Reserve Committee of Management chair Jacinta Wareham said the resurfacing of the courts was a necessity.
“We’re very excited,” she said.
“It’s long overdue from a health and safety perspective as there were concerns due to the court becoming more slippery as the surface became worn.
“It had to be done as it was getting to a stage where we couldn’t continue to play safety.
“It is great council has responded to our concerns.”
Ms Wareham said the installation of the acrylic surface would bring the courts up to modern standards.
“I can only think of one or two other courts in the area with acrylic surface, but it is common in Geelong and Melbourne,” she said.
“It is Netball Victoria’s recommendation to have this surface so it will be a great addition.”
Work is scheduled to commence in mid-February and be completed by the end of the month (depending on weather), right in time for the 2024 netball season.
The resurfacing will mark the first step in a larger vision to revitalise the space to bolster the burgeoning number of female athletes representing the Mortlake community.
As Western District Newspapers has previously reported, plans have been drawn up to provide a sheltered area for spectatorsin addition to fully-accessible change room facilities which can be utilised by tennis and netball athletes, and female footballers.
Ms Wareham said she hoped the full project could be completed within a 12-month window, however works could not start without an initial funding commitment from Moyne Shire Council.
“We put in a funding application to council last year around late November or early December seeking a contribution, which we know takes time to process, but there are a number of grant options out there,” she said.
“However, we are waiting on council because we can’t apply for additional funding without an initial council contribution.
“We have to wait for council for pre-approval, so we’re in a bit of a stalemate as there are some Federal and State funding streams which close at the end of March, and we may miss out without council approval.
“We’re somewhat in the hands of the gods waiting on applying for grants and waiting on the outcome.”
The $70,000 works to resurface the court area was funded by Moyne Shire’s allocation of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, delivered by council in collaboration with the Mortlake Recreation Reserve Committee of Management.
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