Geelong council will seek funding for the second stage of Sovereign Drive Recreation Reserve.
Council adopted a master plan to guide the next stage of development at the Mount Duneed site, which will include a second multi-use sports field, a multi-purpose pavilion, car parking, an expansion of the existing Men’s Shed, expanded cricket nets, upgraded lighting and a dog off-leash area.
City of Greater Geelong has $8.6 million in funding for stage two from developer contributions from Villawood Properties, which delivered stage one of the reserve in 2017.
However, with the estimated cost of the master plan recommendations currently sitting at $12.8 million, council will need to source external funding from state or federal government grant programs, such as Sports and Recreation Victoria’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund of the Play Our Way national grants.
Councillor Andrew Katos delivered a scathing assessment of member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman’s lack of advocacy for both the recreation reserve development and the promised new secondary school at the corner of Sovereign Drive and Boundary Road.
“We have the state election coming up and we’d like to see some commitments there from all,” he said.
“It’s quite disappointing, we essentially don’t have a local member for the people of South Barwon. For the last 18 months (Mr Cheeseman) has taken his salary without doing anything for the local community.
“Perhaps he could walk down there and take a look at (the recreation reserve) site and the school site and perhaps get off his backside and get us some funding.”
Councillor Katos said the Men’s Shed expansion was an important part of the master plan, as was the dog park.
“Unfortunately, with our new subdivisions, the blocks of land are not always huge,” he said.
“So to have the opportunity for residents to use a dog park, I think it’s a very simple part of the master plan. It’s probably one of the least expensive parts…that would add a lot to the local community.”
