Berwick Regional Churches Soccer Club junior player Micah is thrilled with the announcement of plans to build a $3 million sports facility at Grices Road in Berwick. 22202 Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Callan Date
CASEY Council plans to spend $3 million on a new cricket and soccer facility in Berwick.
The development – which will include three soccer pitches, a cricket oval, floodlighting and a pavilion – has been earmarked for a large parcel of vacant land near Grices Road.
Council will apply for a $500,000 State Government grant which, if successful, will go towards the project.
Casey Comets Soccer Club is also hoping to receive $60,000 through the same funding scheme.
Casey has applied for the grant on the Cranbourne club’s behalf and plans to use the money to develop an extra soccer pitch and training lights at the O’Tooles Road site.
The project is set to cost $200,000 with Casey funding the remaining $140,000.
Berwick Regional Churches Soccer Club is expected to make Grices Road its new home base.
Construction on the facility is set to begin in late 2009.
The facility will also be used by the adjacent St Francis Xavier Junior College and help provide additional facilities for use by the school.
A council report noted there was a high demand for soccer and cricket facilities in the local area.
Other features of the Grices Road plan include a synthetic pitch, cricket nets, fencing, car parking, landscaping, pedestrian paths and irrigation of playing fields.
Casey councillors voted unanimously for the grant applications to be submitted.
However, Cr Kevin Bradford said he was disappointed the Casey Comets had been overlooked as the option for the major grant.
“The culture of this council is to keep building new facilities rather than consolidate and build upon our existing clubrooms,” Cr Bradford said.
Cr Rob Wilson said the grant application had a high chance of success.
“I’m really pleased that it has finally come up,” Cr Wilson said.
“Berwick Churches’ seniors train at Chalcot Lodge in Endeavour Hills and are losing players and coaches due to a lack of good facilities there,” Cr Wilson said.
He said the eventual move of the soccer club to Berwick would bring it closer to its junior base at Hillsmeade Reserve in Narre Warren.
“This is a big bonus for two local soccer clubs.”
