By JESSE GRAHAM
HEALESVILLE’S Soccer and Netball clubs will have a new home in the coming months, with construction underway for a new pavilion at the Don Road Sporting Complex.
The new pavilion, which will be shared by the soccer and netball clubs, is currently under construction at the sporting complex, and is expected to be completed in in August.
Healesville Soccer Club president, Nick Caloutas, said the pavilion would help the clubs for events and membership, with men’s and women’s changing rooms, a social room and a canteen.
Currently, Mr Caloutas said the Healesville Football Club allowed clubs the use of their change rooms and facilities, also located at the complex – though this has problems when football games are held at the same time.
The club also uses small portable buildings next to the courts, but Mr Caloutas said the new, $1.6 million pavilion would have all the facilities needed under one roof.
“We’ll finally have a home after all these years,” he said.
He said that morale in the club had improved since works began, and that he hoped having proper facilities could attract new members.
“The general consensus by the people involved with the soccer club, and even the players, to see the works starting now, it’s a great vibe,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot more numbers that have shown interest, that they want to play soccer now.
“If you’ve got change rooms, showers, a canteen and a social room – we can sit down and cook meals for our players as well – it just makes a massive difference.”
Healesville Football and Netball Club vice president, Kym Estcourt-Barclay, said agreed with Mr Caloutas and said the new facilities would help the netballers.
She said there would be four change rooms – two for the soccer club and two for the netballers – once the building was completed, as well as shower facilities and a first-aid room.
Ms Estcourt said that, currently, players had to go home to shower – which was a problem after winter games when they get soaked during games.
“It’s going to be great for us girls through the season, but it’s also going to be really cool, come finals time,” Ms Estcourt-Barclay said.
“We’re really excited – it’s going to be great when it’s all finished.”
Mr Caloutas said he expected the membership at the club to “multiply” once the building was finished.
Funding for the pavilion came in the form of $500,000 from Casey MP Tony Smith, $100,000 from the Victorian Government and $1 million from the Yarra Ranges Council.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Environment and Engineering, Mark Varmalis, said the new pavilion will provide
“accessible, high quality sport and recreation facilities” for the community.
“The facilities will include unisex change facilities for up to six teams, umpire change rooms and amenities, first aid room, storage, kitchen/canteen, social rooms and viewing areas.”
Anyone interested in signing up to the Healesville Soccer Club can visit www.healesvillesoccerclub.com.au or call 0418 566 474.
For more information about the Healesville Football Netball Club, visit bit.ly/1Q2BqJH.
