By Alice Rennison
The Liberal Party will contribute $1 million to the home of Mooroolbark Soccer Club if elected in November.
The Opposition announcement redevelopment plans for the Esther Park Community Sports Pavillion on Saturday 25 August.
Mooroolbark Soccer Club has 250 players, including 95 women and girls.
The club, established in 1962, fields senior and junior men’s and women’s teams, as well as some mixed teams.
The redevelopment will provide separate female and male change rooms and associated amenities including a first-aid room and public toilets.
The club does not currently have permanent female amenities or change rooms.
Under the proposed plan, the community would also be able to use the facilities for meetings, social gatherings and community events.
The upgrade would cost more than $2 million.
Yarra Ranges Council has contributed $1.85 million to the project.
Mooroolbark Soccer Club president Mick Ashworth said plans for the upgrade started five years ago.
He is “hopeful” the upgrade will be completed in two years’ time.
The club moved to Esther Park in about 1966 and the current club rooms were built in 1984.
“There weren’t female soccer players then,” Mr Ashworth said.
He said that in the past 10 years there was a massive amount of girls and women joining the club.
“We currently have two female senior teams and we are hoping to have three next year,” Mr Ashworth said.
“We have three junior girls’ teams and we are hoping to have four to five next year.”
He said the expansion would allow more women to join the club.
“We are growing every year,” Mr Ashworth said.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Len Cox said more and more people wanted to play sport, particularly females.
“Girls are wanting to play and we need to upgrade facilities,” he said.
“We have built five new change rooms for girls at football clubs in the shire.
“We plan on building four more this year.”
Cr Cox said sport was booming for female teams.
“It’s a terrific change,” he said.
