WORK on the Harley Hammond Reserve Netball Courts and Lighting Upgrade Project in Broadford has hit a significant construction milestone but remains unlikely to be ready for the beginning of the season.
In the Mitchell Shire Council’s (MSC) March update of the site, they said the concrete slab for the new competition-standard netball courts has now been poured. Crews will continue surface preparation and installation works to progress the courts towards completion.
The netball courts and lighting are scheduled to be completed by early April, weather permitting. However with the season opener for the senior sides set for March 28, Broadford’s move to the Bendigo Football Netball League won’t begin with a grand opening of the courts.
But Broadford Football Netball Club president Bonnie Welch said it won’t make a difference to their early season matchups with ample courts still available.
“We always had the other two brand new courts to play on, and have for many years while the old courts were unserviceable,” she said.
“Juniors don’t start for a few more weeks either so it’s no stress on our end with the project. We are very excited by it and appreciate Council’s work.”
The project is funded by $967,250 from the Australian Government’s Play Our Way Program with MSC contributing $200,000, bringing the total investment to $1.167 million.
MSC said the investment will deliver two new fit-for-purpose netball courts complete with compliant lighting, supporting Broadford’s growing participation in netball across all ages and abilities.
A new play space adjacent to the courts is also progressing well and remains on track for completion in May.
