Ash Bolt
The Corio Community Sporting Club, Corio Cricket Club and the Corio community are set to benefit from the completion of a major works project at Shell Reserve.
The Shell Reserve netball courts and cricket nets upgrade project saw the demolition of the existing netball court, construction of two new netball courts and the development of new cricket nets.
City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said the $975,000 City-funded project was vital to ensuring the tenant clubs and local residents were given an opportunity to access high-quality facilities in their own neighbourhood.
“Corio has a proud history of sporting involvement and facilities of this nature will cater for continued growth of both the Corio Community Sporting Club and Corio Cricket Club,” Cr Sullivan said.
“The fact that the existing cricket training facilities were outdated and in need of being upgraded was a key driver of the project.
“There’s no doubt that both the new nets and courts will be of enormous benefit to residents of the Corio region.”
Sport portfolio chair Ron Nelson said having high-quality sporting and recreation facilities was necessary when encouraging the community to remain physically active and engage with local sporting clubs.
“It is important that, with the continued growth of the Corio region, we have the facilities available to cater for the number of residents looking to remain active and involved with these two clubs,” Cr Nelson said.
“The creation of three new cricket nets will also provide an opportunity for the cricket club to develop its junior program, while doubling the capacity of the netball facilities will ensure more access to involvement for the region’s netballers.”
The major works complement a larger infrastructure project which included the redevelopment of the Shell Reserve changerooms.
Work on the changeroom redevelopment started in December 2021, with the City successfully securing a grant for $500,000 from the state government’s Local Infrastructure Fund – Female Friendly Facilities stream.
The council has allocated just over $3 million in its forward budgeting to the changeroom redevelopment.
