By Tyler Wright
The Belgrave Recreation Reserve Committee is calling for upgrades to the reserve’s current pavillion and more space to meet the demand of an increase in club members.
Belgrave Recreation Reserve committee member, Treasurer of the Belgrave Football Netball Club and Secretary of the Belgrave Cricket Club Melissa Davey said the facility’s lack of suitable for members became evident when female participation in the club began to grow around three or four years ago.
Access to the men’s toilets would mean having to walk through the home change room; sometimes used by female members.
Ms Davey said it was also evident the facilities were not fit for more than three grades of football.
“Just having the two male and female toilets, we’ve had a couple of members that are transgender and non binary and we don’t even have the facilities to make it comfortable in that environment either,” Ms Davey said.
“There’s only one umpires room; so we have a lot of female umpires come through and there’s just not another space for them to get changed.”
“We actually have the numbers and the desire to have a second women’s cricket team and a second women’s football team, but we’re just so restricted already that it’s gonna hinder our ability to continue to grow in the in the clubs.”
The Liberal party has pledged $3.8 million to the development of Belgrave Recreation Reserve if elected in the November state election.
The funds will go towards a new welcoming sports pavillion, new cricket nets, updated rooms for the Belgrave Men’s Shed, new and ongoing maintenance for sporting equipment and the completion of netball courts.
Shadow Minister for Sport, Cindy McLeish, said the new facilities would support increased visitation to the reserve.
“Providing locals with this recreational infrastructure will boost overall health and well-being for the whole community,” Ms McLeish said.
“Locals have indicated that these investments are vital and only the Liberals and Nationals are committed to delivering them.”
Liberal Candidate for Monbulk, Gareth Ward, said the announcement integrated amenity upgrades, as well as important upgrades for emergency infrastructure.
“By providing a space for local CFA units to meet and train, this will prepare them for future emergencies,” Mr Ward said.
“The reserve itself is Belgrave’s main sporting asset, home to many local clubs and only the Liberals and Nationals will commit to its ongoing development.”
Ms Davey said the new facilities will provide a place for male and female participants alike.
“We’ve got the space for them and we know that they’re there, so it would be good to actually give all those people in the community the opportunity to actually play the sport and be in a community they want to be in,” she said.
Labor candidate for Monbulk, Daniela De Martino, was contacted for comment.
