Geelong’s West Oval set to get bigger, better

Article posted by Coliseum, January 6^th, 2021

Image: Geelong Australia

Geelong’s West Oval arena, located in Australia’s Victoria and residence of the Geelong West Giants, Geelong West Cricket Club and Geelong Cycling Club, is set to metamorphose into a major regional sporting facility by September 2021. The entire upgrade price tag will come to $11 million. The upgrade is being jointly funded by the Victorian Government and the City.

Geelong West Giants known in short as the Giants is an Australian rules football and netball club.

A new double storied pavilion with home and away change rooms, umpires’ change rooms, all-accessible shower and toilet facilities, commercial kitchen, kiosk and bar, a club gym, timekeepers and coaches’ boxes, as well as much-needed equipment storage space are the main upgrades to be done to West Oval.

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Additional venue revamps include the resurfacing of two existing netball courts and a new warm-up area, new scoreboard, enhanced spectator seating, landscaping, pavements including ramps, a new southern car park and modifications to existing Northern car park.

The G21 Alliance partners comprising AFL Barwon, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria worked in consonance on the elevation of West Oval as a preferred location for hosting regional football finals, Australian Football League Women (AFLW), TAC Cup and Victoria Football League (VFL) matches.

The G21 Regional Alliance is made up of five local Government areas – City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surf Coast Shire, Golden Plains Shire and Colac Otway Shire, and the AFL Barwon, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria. The alliance developed a partnership to assess infrastructure and sports development needs from both a local and regional perspective.

Sport portfolio Chair Councilor Ron Nelson said that West Oval, like Kardinia Park, is a ground with a great deal of historical significance attached to it in Geelong.

“West Oval is home to several sporting clubs and these upgrades will make it a second regional-level facility, an alternative to Kardinia Park and capable of hosting AFLW and VFL games,” Councilor Nelson added.

“The Council is proud of its investment in this much-needed $11 million upgrade, which includes a club gym and space to fit 200 guests, allowing these clubs to grow and thrive,” the Councilor continued.

The 36,000-capacity Kardinia Park, owned and operated by the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, is a sporting and entertainment venue located within Kardinia Park, South Geelong, in Victoria. The stadium is the home ground of the Geelong Football Club and the A-League football club Western United FC.

Member for Lara John Eren said it was fantastic to see the progress that has been made since the funding was announced in 2018 and enthused, “This funding, and these upgrades will go a long way to encouraging more locals to get active and strengthen Geelong’s sporting reputation”.

Member for Geelong Christine Couzens added, “This club’s promotion of female sport and leadership in the community is to be commended. This will be a great sporting and community facility for Geelong.”

Couzens added that the Victorian Government was proud to deliver the $7.4 million election commitment to make this project a reality.

The master plan guiding the improvements will preserve the historic elements of the venue, such as the heritage-listed Flowers Family Stand, which has received minor modifications.

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