News

• 2010-06-25 - New facility to make Albert Park more accessible

  The demolition of an old toilet block to make way for the new State Athletics Centre at Albert Park has allowed Parks Victoria in Partnership with Sport and Recreation Victoria and Major Projects Victoria to design and build a new facility that will make a visit to one of Melbourne's best-loved parks easier for many people.

  The design and location of the new Parks Victoria Toilet Block will ensure all visitors, including people with disabilities, older visitors and parents with young children, can use the park in safety and comfort.  The new facility will be sited close to the picnic area. 

  Save Albert Park spokesperson Peter Goad welcomed the news toilets and the forward thinking design of them.

  "Save Albert Park is pleased to see that Parks Victoria is moving quickly to replace the old toilet block next to Lakeside Oval. The design and location of the new facility reflects modern thinking and should be a vast improvement on its predecessor perched high on the top of a mound,” Mr Goad said.

  The new facility will be built and landscaped so that it is unobtrusive.  The facility will be open only during daylight hours.

  'When we build a new toilet facility in a public park, aesthetics is probably one of the easiest considerations, however a great deal of effective planning and design is undertaken to ensure that the new facility will provide for the whole of the community. It is vital to ensure ease of access for people with disabilites, carers and parents and this means as considering pathways to access the facility and its proximity to activity areas," Albert Park Ranger-in-Charge James Brincat said.

  The facility will comprise six self-contained unisex toilets and meets all relevant Australian Standards, including accessibility standards.

  For more information, please visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.
  

• 2010-05-22 - Work starts on new state sports centre at Albert Park

  Construction began today to transform Albert Park’s historic Lakeside Oval into the state’s premier sports centre for elite athletes as part of a major $50 million redevelopment.

  Major Projects Minister Tim Pallas marked the start of works today with Member for Albert Park Martin Foley and said the redevelopment also secured the future of more than 150 years of sporting history at Lakeside Oval.

  “The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to build for the future, investing in projects that generate thousands of jobs, boost the local economy and in this case, support elite and community sport in Victoria,” Mr Pallas said.

  “The redevelopment of Lakeside Oval is part of a $50 million commitment from the Government to deliver world class facilities for athletes, sporting clubs and the wider community.

  “The Albert Park precinct will be transformed into an elite training and competition centre, boasting an international running track and support facilities that will host international, school and community athletics competitions.

  “The heritage grandstand, constructed in 1926, will be restored to become the new home of the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), helping to reaffirm Victoria’s position as an international sporting destination with premier events and world class infrastructure.

  “Watpac Limited will deliver the new facilities, creating more than 80 jobs and injecting around $146 million into the Victorian economy during construction alone.”

  Sport and Recreation Minister James Merlino said the start of works on the new home for the VIS and Athletics Victoria also secured the future of the historic Lakeside Oval.

  “During the last 150 years Lakeside has played host to cricket, Australian Rules football and grand final, running, cycling, baseball, soccer and even hurling. This redevelopment will make sure that Lakeside remains a centre for sporting excellence for many years to come,” he said.

  “The works will also support the oval’s current tenants, the South Melbourne Football Club, with upgrades to soccer competition and administration facilities, while other facilities will include pole vaulting, high jump and javelin areas as well as presentation and officials’ rooms.”

  In addition to this project, the Government has also committed an additional $5.5 million to develop a new home for Athletics Australia at the precinct.

  Mr Foley said the impressive new facilities would open up increased opportunities for elite and community participation in athletics, football, rugby and Ultimate Frisbee as well as providing sports infrastructure for local schools.

  “With these great new facilities on our doorstop, this presents new and fantastic opportunities for local schools and the wider community to get involved in sport and recreation,” Mr Foley said.

  Works at the Lakeside Oval redevelopment are expected to be complete in 2011.

• 2009-11-25 - Works begin on sporting precinct

  The transformation of Albert Park into an elite and grassroots sports precinct has begun, with Sports Minister James Merlino breaking ground on the State Sports Facilities project today.

  Mr Merlino said the $50 million Brumby Labor Government project would help cement Melbourne’s status as the world’s sporting capital with the development of a new State Athletics Centre, while keeping grassroots sport alive through the longest drought in our history.

  “Victorians are passionate about their sport and this project will not only add another piece of infrastructure to our world-class sporting precincts, but provide opportunities at the grassroots to ensure our communities are strong, happy, healthy and active,” Mr Merlino said.

  “Construction of the important community aspect to this redevelopment – including two new all-purpose synthetic pitches and a pavilion – is the first step in the rejuvenation of Albert Park.

  “The pitches will provide safe, water-free surfaces that are capable of being used day in, day out right throughout the year by sporting organisations and families.”

  Mr Merlino said nearby Lakeside Oval would be redeveloped to house the new State Athletics Centre and provide high quality training facilities for elite athletes to train and compete.

  “The heritage grandstand, constructed in 1926, will be restored to become the new home of the Victorian Institute of Sport, while the precinct will provide improved facilities for the athletics community, school groups and community organisations to better meet their needs.”

  Work on the State Athletics Centre is scheduled to begin in early 2010 and would include a synthetic eight-lane running track with 10-lane front straight, a warm-up and throws area for track pole vaulting, high jump and javelin areas as well as presentation and officials rooms.

  Mr Foley said the project will help to consolidate Victoria’s position as a world class sporting destination with premier events and infrastructure, however most importantly it will open up these impressive facilities to the community.

  “The community is the big winner and will also be able to take advantage of new soccer and touch football fields and an athletics warm-up area, creating an exciting new precinct where elite sport and community participation can coexist.”

  The synthetic pitches are expected to be completed in early 2010.

  Mr Merlino also announced the Brumby Labor Government would provide more than $450,000 for a major redevelopment of the Clarke Shields Pavilion in Albert Park.

  “The project will redevelop the existing pavilion that will be used by more than 1000 people a week for sports such as athletics, cricket, football and proposed basketball teams as well as schools and community groups throughout the region,” Mr Merlino said.

  The project includes change rooms, store rooms, kitchen/kiosk with store room, disabled access and amenities, male and female public toilets, umpires and coaches rooms, a committee room, office extension of the clubrooms and balcony.

  Mr Foley said the project will allow for an increase in participation by providing the necessary infrastructure for athletics, football, cricket and use by schools and community organisations.

  He congratulated South Melbourne District Sports Club, City of Port Phillip and the AFL for their contribution to the $798,000 project.

  “This is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when state and local government works with the community to improve our local sporting facilities,” Mr Foley said.