$1 million upgrade for Clarke Shields Pavilion

Thursday 12 July, 2012

Member for Southern Metropolitan Region, Andrea Coote, has announced the commencement of a multi-agency $1 million project to upgrade the Clarke Shields Pavilion at Albert Park, home of the South Melbourne District Sports Club.

The project will deliver modern, safe and accessible facilities for the club including new change rooms and club rooms and more adaptable facilities to encourage greater community participation.

The works will allow for greater use of Albert Park and continue to encourage people to get out in to parks and get active.

The upgrade followed extensive consultation by Parks Victoria and would provide a world-class facility for this and future generations of visitors to Albert Park. The upgrade includes:

• the construction of two new change rooms, shower facilities, toilets and a storeroom refurbishment of existing change rooms and kiosk on ground floor
• conversion of the existing ground floor toilets to a change room
• extension to existing clubrooms and balcony.

Celebrating its centenary year, the South Melbourne District Sports Club services the community of the City of Port Phillip and beyond, offering a wide range of sports throughout the year to suit all ages from kinder to seniors.

Significant investment for this project has come from the Victorian Coalition Government through Parks Victoria and Sport and Recreation Victoria, South Melbourne District Sports Club, City of Port Phillip and AFL Victoria. It will create a great asset for Albert Park.

Parks Victoria has worked with the club to complete the design work and appointed a contractor to deliver the works, which will take around 8 months. Construction is due to be completed by December 2012. Access to the site will be limited during construction in the interests of public safety. Parks Victoria will work closely with the club to minimise the impact of the construction over the AFL and cricket seasons.

Albert Park is home to 21 sporting fields and accommodates 47 community sporting organisations. The precinct also encompasses a golf course and driving range, Junction Oval, the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and the newly redeveloped Lakeside Stadium.