Sports oval for students

By Dion Teasdale
HEALESVILLE High School will have a new $300,000 sports oval ready for use in the second half of the year.
The school’s acting principal, Allan Rennick, said work on the project commenced earlier this month and that the oval would be ready for use in October.
“It is hoped that the underground drainage work, watering system and soil work will be completed within six weeks and that the grass will be planted in early March,” Mr Rennick said.
The former sports oval was lost when it became the site for the school’s new science and technology building, which is currently under construction.
Mr Rennick said the school had been able to make a saving on the construction of its new building and was diverting funds to the oval project.
“We had about $165,000 from the Department of Education for the creation of an oval, and with the savings that have been made on other building projects, we have now got around $300,000,” he said.
Mr Rennick said the school was delighted to see the oval project moving ahead after a proposal to create a community sports hub at the school was stalled last year.
“We were disappointed that the sports hub idea wasn’t able to get the support of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the State Government, but what we’ve ended up with is still fantastic,” he said.
Healesville High School had applied for funding to establish a community sports hub, incorporating its gymnasium, indoor swimming pool and a sports oval, but it was unsuccessful in attracting the funds.
The school had also hoped to offer its sports hub as a permanent home for the Healesville Soccer Club.
Mr Rennick said he was pleased to read in the Mail that the soccer club had united with the town’s Junior and Senior Football clubs to find a home.
“If the soccer club gets a permanent home, then that’s great, and in the meantime the school will have a new oval for its students,” he said.