By Tanya Steele
It’s game on for over 3,000 local netball players across Knox as their beloved and newly upgraded sports venue has been officially opened to the public.
The Knox Regional Netball Centre (KRNC) and its new upgrades and improvements were unveiled in a ceremony on Wednesday 13 December.
President of Mountain District Netball Association (MDNA) Melissa Rosie said that the association loves the new improvements.
“It’s added an extra dimension to our netball and all the teams can now play inside,” she said.
The MNDA and the Eastern Football and Netball league have been using the new and improved facilities for several months and are enjoying the expansion.
“We have been in the building since last year and being able to move all the teams inside last week when the weather was bad was great,” said MDNA Administrator Lynn Shepperd.
This project has delivered two additional indoor courts, new change rooms, a function room, an observation deck and upgrades to the existing stadium including improved accessibility and storage.
This facility was constructed by Knox City Council in collaboration with the Australian and Victorian Governments and officially opened by Member for Aston Mary Doyle, Member for Bayswater, Mr Jackson Taylor and Knox City Council Mayor Cr Jude Dwight.
Member for Aston Mary Doyle said she was wrapped to be at the opening and looks forward to visiting in the following year to see teams play.
“This upgraded and improved netball centre will make a huge difference to players, coaches, staff, umpires and the local community,” she said.
The improvements at the facility also include an extra 180 parking bays with accessible parking, improved pedestrian walkways and landscaping, public art installations, four star energy initiatives including solar power, recycled materials, natural light and rainwater retention systems plus additional office space, first aid room and multi-purpose function room.
Member for Bayswater Jackson Taylor said he wanted to thank the netball community at large for making the improvements possible.
“This happened because of the people sitting here and all the people who played on the weekends,” he said.
“The new courts will cement the centre’s reputation as the home of local netball and support the growing number of people in Knox keen to get involved in local sport and recreation.”
The opening ceremony included unveiling a plaque for the facility and was accompanied by a tour with Project Coordinator Yaros Smalkov followed by light refreshments.
Major Dwight said she was proud and grateful the project was finalised after tricky circumstances thrown up by both Covid and material shortages.
“What we’ve managed to achieve is all the more exciting because of the challenges that have been overcome together,” she said.
The multi-million-dollar co-investment of $15.6 million came together with participation from three levels of government – with $4 million grant from the federal government, $5 million in funding from the state government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program and a $6.6 million council contribution.
Ms Rosie said the MDNA is enjoying the new improvements and is looking forward to adding more to their competitions.
“We have plans for both walking netball and boys netball,” she said.
The Knox Regional Netball Centre is located at 9 Dempster Street, Ferntree Gully.
