Spring Fresh Transformation - Major Recreation Projects Update

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Spring Fresh Transformation

Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Stadium

Work is continuing at a rapid rate on Latrobe City Council’s major recreation projects.

This update shows the extent of the transformation as some projects reach completion and others draw ever closer.

Above: Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Stadium is looking magnificent with the addition of a full size synthetic pitch at the complex.

Right: Construction on the Traralgon Sports Stadium is continuing with the steel framework and roofing almost complete.

Lower right: The Cricket Centre of Excellence at Ted Summerton Reserve is progressing quickly with the exterior fully formed and the interior fit-out underway.

a new energy

Traralgon Sports Stadium

The Cricket Centre of Excellence

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Latrobe Valley Sports & Community Initiative Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre

$57 million • New indoor aquatic centre at Hubert Osborne Park • Eight lane 50 metre indoor pool • 500 seats for spectators • 25m outdoor pool • Water slides • Geothermal heating • Indoor water play zone • Warm water therapy pool • Learn to swim pool • Spa and sauna areas • Café and retail precinct

Traralgon Sports Stadium

$19 million • Four court expansion to existing Traralgon Sports Stadium at Catterick Crescent • New show court • 3000 spectator seats • New multipurpose training and administration space

Morwell Recreation Reserve

$9 million • AFL Football Centre of Excellence • Multi-use synthetic oval • New netball courts • Upgraded change rooms • New cricket and netball pavilion • Keegan Street Oval re-alignment and upgrade • Lighting upgrade to main oval

Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Complex

$1.7 million • Football Centre of Excellence • New synthetic pitch • Change room upgrades

Ted Summerton Reserve

$3.5 million • Cricket Centre of Excellence • New indoor centre with five lane synthetic training wickets • Cutting edge training and coaching technology • Outdoor training area

Traralgon Tennis Centre $400,000 • 14 courts resurfaced • New perimeter fencing

a new energy

COMP LETED

Above upper: Construction is well under way at Traralgon Sports Stadium.

Above lower: ASH General Manager, Vince Hurley shows Mayor Graeme Middlemiss the timber to be used in the Traralgon Sports Stadium flooring.

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Traralgon Sports Stadium

The Traralgon Sports Stadium upgrades are taking shape, quite literally, at Catterick Crescent.

A towering steel skeleton now stands on site as local company WELDTEK finalises the structural components of the new stadium add-on, which will include a 3000 spectator capacity showcourt.

Fitting out the insides of the leviathan framework commenced in August when another local company, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods, began milling the Victorian Ash timber flooring.

Latrobe City Mayor Graeme Middlemiss joined ASH General Manager Vince Hurley at the Heyfield based mill on 20 August to view the manufacturing process in real time.

“We’re actually seeing the production of the first timber components for our new basketball stadium in Traralgon and this mill also produces components for our performing arts centre and a number of our other buildings,” Cr Middlemiss said.

“This mill in Heyfield is vital to the production of our new buildings in Latrobe City.”

a new energy

ASH will supply 57,800 lineal metres, or 57 kilometres, of 60 to 80 year-old Victorian Ash hardwood regrowth harvested from sustainable plantation zones north of the Latrobe Valley.

The finished product will be a FIBA 1 compliant court that is suitable for the highest level international events.

“This is quality Gippsland timber, the appearance of it is magnificent and we want as much of it as we can in our buildings,” Cr Middlemiss said.

“It’s local timber, local people working. What we can do to support Gippsland industry we will do, it’s important.”

The timber takes about 18 months from harvest to finished product due to a careful air drying process prior to kiln drying, which ensures the best quality and most stable floor possible.

Mr Hurley said it was encouraging to see local products and local suppliers being used as part of the project.

“We mainly compete with imports and one of the alternatives (for this project) was imports but with the State Government’s

contribution as far as ensuring local content and Latrobe picking up and going very local it’s a great boost for ASH,” he said.

ASH has also been engaged to supply content for the Latrobe Regional Gallery, Latrobe Creative Precinct projects and routinely supplies content for community projects.

“It’s part of our whole reason for being here – we are a part of the local community whether it be for the Heyfield Football Club, community sporting clubs, the Lions Club; we support local schools and kindergartens, we put budget aside to ensure we can support the local community,” Mr Hurley said.

The $19 million TSS project is funded by $17 million from the Latrobe Valley Authority’s $85 million sports and community initiative and a $2 million low interest loan from Sport and Recreation Victoria.

The project is due for completion in early 2020.

For updates on the Traralgon Sports Stadium visit www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/TSS

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Stadium

An aerial view of the synthetic pitch at Latrobe City Sports Stadium.

Gippsland’s soccer stars of the future will have the chance to hone their skills year round with the addition of a full-size FIFA accredited synthetic pitch to the Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Stadium (LCSES).

a new energy

Latrobe City Mayor Cr Graeme Middlemiss joined Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing on 10 July to officially open the new facility, which is already being enjoyed by local clubs and user groups.

Installed by Turf One, the new pitch allows for 11-a-side, nine-a-side and other small sided soccer as well as multi-purpose usage.

Football Federation Victoria facilities manager Kevin O’Byrne said the project would provide a raft of opportunities for soccer players across the region.

For updates on the Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Centre visit www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/LCSES

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6 “Certainly it increases the opportunity for participation numbers… with synthetic pitches compared to natural grass there’s two or three times the number of hours that can be spent on a synthetic pitch,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“This is a great opportunity to add more children, boys and girls and seniors playing the game in Gippsland and ... (people) can travel (from) far and wide to make use of this facility.

“It provides pathways from club levels to those who want to go on further, so to have a central hub with this type of facility is important as well.”

Highlights of the project included: • A new synthetic pitch of 105 x 68 metres plus run off, perimeter pathways and storage areas, and officials and players benches • A six metre high ball catching net along Crinigan Road • 100 lux LED lighting • Removable goals for full size and small sided soccer • About 230 metres of perimeter fencing along Crinigan Road and within the reserve • A power upgrade for new and future lighting across the whole centre

The synthetic pitch was funded as part of a $1.7 million upgrade to LCSES through the Victorian Government’s $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative administered by Latrobe Valley Authority.

It comes as a key milestone in a longer term upgrade of the centre, which requires a further $13.5 million in funding to transform the venue into Gippsland’s regional centre of excellence for soccer in line with council’s master plan for the site.

“This is a great first stage development for this stadium… there’s more stages to go once funding becomes available but also to provide a central hub for the city of Morwell for football and surrounding districts as well,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“We’re looking at… other training opportunities and to bring some major events here as well as a real central hub.”

Melbourne Victory will play an A-League friendly against Perth Glory at LCSES on 21 September.

Image: Latrobe City Mayor Cr Graeme Middlemiss, and Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing with boys and girls from Gippsland FC and Football Victoria Regional Manager Mark Cassar at the official opening.

a new energy

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Traralgon Croquet Club It may be winter but there’s a spring in the step of Traralgon Croquet Club members as they enjoy a change of greenery at Glenview Park.

With the club’s former Breed Street base of 60 years being utilised as part of the $57 million Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre project, Latrobe City Council has facilitated a move to the Glenview Park sporting precinct.

Latrobe City Mayor Cr Graeme Middlemiss joined Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing on 10 July to officially open the new and improved Traralgon Croquet Club and tour the recently completed site.

The finished product includes lighting to enable evening play, a new clubhouse, car

COMP LETED

parking, pedestrian access and four grassed courts designed to maximise local usage and attract major competitions.

“As a council we want to ensure all community groups and sporting clubs have a place to call home,” Cr Middlemiss said.

“We recognised the impact the GRAC project would have on the croquet club and worked hand-in-hand with the club’s membership every step of the way to ensure a positive outcome and smooth transition to a new facility.

“It is imperative that in developing major recreation infrastructure we do not leave anyone behind along the way, so we are proud to have come to a great agreement with the Traralgon Croquet Club which will

lead to an even brighter future at this new and improved site.”

A number of local contractors were engaged to work on this build including RJ Low (building contractor), BuildEng (building design and engineer), Malady Electrical (electrician), Chris Larkin (plumbing), Evergreen turf (surfacing) and ReMarkable Fencing (fencing).

The new Traralgon Croquet Club will enhance the club’s capacity for growth into the future and complements the Traralgon Greyhound Club and Latrobe Valley Racing Club at the McNairn Road Sporting precinct.

Funding was provided by Latrobe Valley Authority’s $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative.

Image: Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing joined Traralgon Croquet Club members and Latrobe City Councillors: Mayor Graeme Middlemiss, Kellie O’Callaghan, Alan McFarlane and Darren Howe to open the new facility.

a new energy

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre

Above: Aerial view of the site Left: Pile driving is now complete

Work is continuing on the $57 million Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre at Breed Street.

ADCO Constructions took control of the site on 18 March and has made significant progress since.

The outdoor pool has been drained and demolished, along with the clubrooms, kiosk and pool buildings with bulk earthworks continuing and piling now completed.

A geothermal heating system will be installed to provide cheap and sustainable heating to the new swimming pools and the air in the buildings.

a new energy

The system will tap in to the aquifer below Traralgon at a depth of more than 600 metres below ground where the ground water is about 65 degrees celsius.

The heat energy from the water is taken off via a heat exchanger and the cooled water is reinjected back down into the aquifer at about 40 degrees.

Drilling for the geothermal heating project commenced in late July 2019.

Visit www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/GRAC to watch the video exploring the geothermal system.

A concrete crusher was recently on site recycling material from the demolition of the pools and buildings for use on site.

An 18 month construction phase is projected with a completion date of late 2020 for an early 2021 opening.

Council worked with key stakeholders including Swimming Victoria to refine the scope of the aquatics components along with a nine-person Project Reference Group (PRG), taking inspiration and learnings from comparable centres across the state.

For updates on the Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre visit www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/GRAC

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6 Feedback from community consultation was utilised in developing plans, with the Latrobe City community highlighting an indoor warm pool, spa and sauna as the top priorities beyond a 50 metre indoor pool with seating.

The Industry Capability Network and GROW Gippsland have been engaged extensively in order to maximise local content on the project and have assisted with the tendering process.

At the height of the build, it is anticipated there will be up to 120 workers on site including strong representation from local sub-contractors.

GRAC will use 90 per cent local content as a designated Victorian Industry Participation Policy initiative.

The PRG will continue to act as a key conduit between Council and community in the planning and delivery of the GRAC. Images: Artist impressions of the Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre.

a new energy

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Morwell Recreation Reserve

Morwell Recreation Reserve has been earmarked for development as Gippsland’s AFL centre of excellence, with transformative work on the ground bringing that vision ever closer to fruition.

A full scale redevelopment of the outdoor netball courts and car park at the reserve has been completed by Morwell based contractor HCM Constructions.

The first games were played on the new surface on April 28, with lighting now installed to accommodate training and night play.

a new energy

Traralgon company Langden Constructions has also completed work on a shared netball and cricket pavilion which is already experiencing extensive usage.

A lighting upgrade to the main football oval has been completed by local company Contracting Kings, with new towers installed and increased lux capacity lights now in use.

Four 30 plus metre high light towers with 44 LED lighting fixtures were installed following demolition of the old Telecom poles which were used for many years.

The new 200 lux LED lighting system allows the grounds to be used for semi-professional game play and professional practice matches.

Above left: The old netball courts Above right: The new look courts Below: The new clubrooms are being enjoyed by local clubs

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Construction is well underway on a training size synthetic football oval neighbouring the Gippsland Power centre of excellence at the site of the former caravan park.

Light poles and cabling for a 150 lux LED sport lighting system have been installed along with a viewing mound and a majority of the retaining walls.

The in-ground soil structure has been completed by lead contractor TUFF TURF but wet weather and site conditions have pushed the expected completion of the project back to later in the year.

Architects and specialist engineers have been engaged for the next project to undertake the initial design work for the redevelopment of the football changerooms and AFL Gippsland offices.

The changerooms will be compliant with AFL facility guidelines for regional level football and plans include: An extension and refurbishment of existing facility • DDA compliant unisex amenities • Multi-use change rooms allowing for female/male change rooms • Umpire facilities •

For updates on the Morwell Recreation Reserve visit www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/MRR

a new energy

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Keegan Street Reserve

The Keegan Street oval will be redeveloped as part of the $9 million Morwell Recreation Reserve project, co-funded by the state and federal governments.

closed to the public during the construction works, however pedestrian access through to Morwell Recreation Reserve will still be available near the new shared sports pavilion.

The project includes reconstructing the oval with a new crown design, upgrading the irrigation system and improving drainage.

Consultation was undertaken with Morwell Football Netball Club, Morwell Cricket Club, Morwell Croquet Club, AFL Victoria, Netball Victoria and Gippsland Power to determine their needs and ideas for the site.

Local contractor A1 Civil will lead these works while Traralgon company Langden Constructions has installed a new four lane synthetic training wicket, including one which will be open for public access.

Access to the Keegan Street Reserve will be

a new energy

A Project Reference Group including local stakeholders continues to guide the overall project.

Above upper: The nets taking shape Inset: Earthworks are underway on the Keegan Street Reserve realignment project

For updates on the Morwell Recreation Reserve including the Keegan Street Reserve visit www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/MRR

Latrobe City Council

Major Recreation Projects Newsletter #6

Ted Summerton Reserve Construction has begun on the $3.5 million cricket centre of excellence at Ted Summerton Reserve with the main centre and auxiliary building now erected.

Plans for the facility include five indoor synthetic training wickets with extended run ups which will cater for multi-use across a range of sports, and a four lane outdoor training facility.

The auxiliary building will contain community meeting rooms, office and administration spaces, change facilities and a first aid room.

Local company Langden Constructions was awarded the design and construct tender and is leading the site’s rapid transformation.

The design followed feedback from Cricket Victoria, who provided a schedule of desired components for the centre of excellence in consultation with regional cricket groups; a revised concept was developed following discussion with user groups.

A $500,000 funding boost from Sport and Recreation Victoria has brought the total funding for the centre to $3.5 million, allowing for the full scope of inclusions.

A Project Reference Group consisting of local stakeholders continues to guide planning for the project.

The overall centre is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

For updates on the Ted Summerton Reserve visit www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/TSR

a new energy

Image above: An overhead shot of the site during early works.

Middle: Concept plans for the cricket centre of excellence.

Below: The framework is taking shape for the new centre of excellence.