Bairnsdale - WORLD Sporting Precinct Redevelopment

The WORLD Sporting Precinct project is now approaching one year since construction commenced (July 2021). The second half of 2021 was particularly challenging due to restrictions on workforce sizes, supply chain issues and material shortages as a result of the pandemic and related health orders. In addition, significant and consistent rainfall events in the second half of the year hampered civil construction efforts. Despite these challenges our CP1 contractor responsible for the new carpark and hockey fields (Cranes Asphalting) has persevered with a great milestone achieved at the end of March seeing access to the new carpark south of Westdale Kindergarten being opened for kindergarten use. With the new access point for the kindergarten up and running, we were able to commence site works on the new netball courts and parking area - also executed by Cranes Asphalting as our CP2 contractor with demolition works commenced for the old courts and carparking. The main demolition work with waste material hauling off site (for recycling and reuse as base material) will be completed by the middle of May. Inground services installation will follow, preceding large concrete pours for the new netball courts.

The hockey pitch work has been steadily progressing. Upgrades to the pitch installations (a synthetic surface to one pitch and improved drainage design to the grass pitch) are being managed and will yield even better outcomes for the community in the completed facility.

The third contract recently awarded by Council is for the WORLD pavilion which will service both hockey and netball. These works (CP3) will be undertaken by Allmore Constructions. Allmore is in the process of arranging the building permit and onboarding sub-contract trades. The pad preparation for the new pavilion is in progress, entailing the relocation of existing in ground services so that we keep the kindergarten up and running.

Our contractors are working hard to complete the three awarded construction contracts covering the pavilion, netball and hockey playing surfaces by the end of 2022, allowing for a summer opening of these facilities. Access will be available to the community through both organised sport and casual use. In addition, the existing paths around the wetlands will be reopened including links to new walking paths throughout the precinct.

The soccer precinct in the southern section of the site will include two pitches and a pavilion similar to the WORLD pavilion. The area where the field and pavilion will be built is currently undergoing Federal Government environmental approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC). Council is awaiting an initial assessment from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE), which will clarify timeframes for the broader approvals process.