TonyK
CibbuanoPM pleased with progress at Whitten Oval
September 28th 2006 06:46
Prime Minister John Howard visited Whitten Oval today and turned the first sod with LeasePlan Western Bulldogs President David Smorgon on the eve of construction for the Whitten Oval redevelopment.
The main works is still out to tender, and will be awarded shortly with a corresponding public announcement.
Mr Howard was joined by over 1,000 local children who participated in a football clinic with the Western Bulldogs squad.
Such activities will become a permanent feature once the redevelopment is completed to encourage local children to engage in healthy, community based activities, resulting in improved health and lifestyle options in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
The $19.5 million Whitten Oval redevelopment ($8 million Federal Government, $3 million State Government, $5.25 million the Forever Foundation, $1.5 million AFL and Maribyrnong City Council $1.0 million, with supplier contributions of $750,000) is set to turn from a vision into a reality with construction set to commence in November 2006.
The venue is now redundant to its original purpose as an AFL/VFL match venue, is in significant disrepair and in some cases is unfit for use due to its condition.
The primary aim of the redevelopment is to take a well positioned parcel of land that has all services connected and that is well serviced by road, rail and bus public transport links to achieve numerous outcomes including improved community access and facilities, improved community site amenities and aesthetics, and becoming a vibrant centre for the provision of community based services.
The latest update on the Oval has seen the City of Maribyrnong approve the planning permit on Tuesday, 15 August.
In another exciting development, construction on the children’s hub will commence shortly with the appointment of Salta Constructions.
Once completed the children’s hub will include a 105-place childcare centre that will be run by a not-for-profit organisation servicing the community for the provision of much needed childcare places in the western region.
Mr Howard was pleased with the progress made on the redevelopment since his first visit to the Oval in September 2004 and believed the new facilities would provide an enormous boost to the community.
“When this redevelopment is finally completed it will not only be a magnificent new home for the Western Bulldogs, it will not only allow the thousands of the young people of the west of Melbourne to learn Australian Rules Football, but it will also provide facilities for other sports and for other physical activities and a child care centre which will provide a general amenity for the district,” Howard said.
Western Bulldogs President David Smorgon thanked those, in particular the Federal Government, who have made the redevelopment possible through their funding.
The commencement of construction to the childcare hub was a specific key deliverable of our commitments with the Federal Government.
The childcare hub is the first of the construction tenders to be let.
The main works including the development of the elite learning centre, the infield building, site rectification and site amenity, aesthetics and accessibility improvements are presently out to tender and will be announced shortly.
Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose said the redevelopment of Whitten Oval was all about re-affirming the roots of the club in the western region as a community icon, and pushing forward as a significant force in the national competition.
Rose paid significant thanks to all of the other funding partners who are involved in this project, including the State Government of Victoria, Maribyrnong City Council, the AFL, and Forever Foundation.
The Whitten Oval redevelopment is due for completion late 2007.
The main works is still out to tender, and will be awarded shortly with a corresponding public announcement.
Mr Howard was joined by over 1,000 local children who participated in a football clinic with the Western Bulldogs squad.
Such activities will become a permanent feature once the redevelopment is completed to encourage local children to engage in healthy, community based activities, resulting in improved health and lifestyle options in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
The $19.5 million Whitten Oval redevelopment ($8 million Federal Government, $3 million State Government, $5.25 million the Forever Foundation, $1.5 million AFL and Maribyrnong City Council $1.0 million, with supplier contributions of $750,000) is set to turn from a vision into a reality with construction set to commence in November 2006.
The venue is now redundant to its original purpose as an AFL/VFL match venue, is in significant disrepair and in some cases is unfit for use due to its condition.
The primary aim of the redevelopment is to take a well positioned parcel of land that has all services connected and that is well serviced by road, rail and bus public transport links to achieve numerous outcomes including improved community access and facilities, improved community site amenities and aesthetics, and becoming a vibrant centre for the provision of community based services.
The latest update on the Oval has seen the City of Maribyrnong approve the planning permit on Tuesday, 15 August.
In another exciting development, construction on the children’s hub will commence shortly with the appointment of Salta Constructions.
Once completed the children’s hub will include a 105-place childcare centre that will be run by a not-for-profit organisation servicing the community for the provision of much needed childcare places in the western region.
Mr Howard was pleased with the progress made on the redevelopment since his first visit to the Oval in September 2004 and believed the new facilities would provide an enormous boost to the community.
“When this redevelopment is finally completed it will not only be a magnificent new home for the Western Bulldogs, it will not only allow the thousands of the young people of the west of Melbourne to learn Australian Rules Football, but it will also provide facilities for other sports and for other physical activities and a child care centre which will provide a general amenity for the district,” Howard said.
Western Bulldogs President David Smorgon thanked those, in particular the Federal Government, who have made the redevelopment possible through their funding.
The commencement of construction to the childcare hub was a specific key deliverable of our commitments with the Federal Government.
The childcare hub is the first of the construction tenders to be let.
The main works including the development of the elite learning centre, the infield building, site rectification and site amenity, aesthetics and accessibility improvements are presently out to tender and will be announced shortly.
Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose said the redevelopment of Whitten Oval was all about re-affirming the roots of the club in the western region as a community icon, and pushing forward as a significant force in the national competition.
Rose paid significant thanks to all of the other funding partners who are involved in this project, including the State Government of Victoria, Maribyrnong City Council, the AFL, and Forever Foundation.
The Whitten Oval redevelopment is due for completion late 2007.
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