Yarra Bend Park is on track to be transformed into the ultimate netball sporting hub for the inner north and deliver a brand-new home for Alphington Netball Club.

Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous, today was thrilled to be joined by Premier Dan Andrews for a tour of the project site, which will see eight competition-grade outdoor netball courts and a modern pavilion built at the park.

The precinct has been eagerly anticipated by local netball players in Alphington and Fairfield, who have worked alongside the Member for Northcote, Netball Victoria and the State Government to see it realised.

The project is contracted to Symal, with the eight courts constructed by SportEng to include outdoor acrylic surfacing with 200 lux lighting, with one court dedicated as multi-sport to enable both basketball and netball. The modular pavilion will be delivered by Rendine Constructions, including modern female friendly changing facilities and clubrooms.

“Alphington Netball Club has been waiting so long for a home. Soon they will have one and the new pavilion will be able to be used by for local cricket and soccer clubs too,” Ms Theophanous said.

The project has been made possible with $8 million from the Andrews Labor Government’s Inner City Netball Program, initially championed by the former Member for Northcote, Fiona Richardson MP, to address the severe shortage of facilities in the region.

“Local netball players deserve to have access to state-of-the-art courts to train, play and compete on. The Yarra Bend netball hub is truly going to change the game for thousands of local kids for generations to come,” Ms Theophanous said.

Initial works on this exciting project have already begun, with the courts due to be completed in 2022. It is part of a huge program of works delivering 64 competition standard courts across Melbourne, Moreland, Yarra and Darebin Councils.

In recent years the Northcote Electorate has already benefited from ten brand new courts across Fairfield Primary, Thornbury High, Northcote High and John Cain Memorial Park.

“My community is passionate about sport and encouraging more women and girls to get involved starts with creating safe and welcoming environments for them to play,” Ms Theophanous emphasised.

The announcement comes following extensive site studies and permit approval for the project by the Heritage Council, which has now formally listed Yarra Bend Park on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Ms Theophanous welcomed the heritage listing, which acknowledges the history and Aboriginal cultural significance of the area and will ensure important protections are upheld throughout the construction process.

Quotes attributable to Alphington Netball Club President, Jo Davies 

"On behalf of the ANC committee and our growing club membership, I would like to share our enthusiasm for the progress being made in realising a local, accessible, purpose built destination for netballers in the future. ANC recognises all the work involved by Netball Victoria and Kat Theophanous' office to keep this planned facility moving forward in such challenging times." 

Quotes attributable to Netball Victoria

“Netball Victoria are so excited to see the vision for the Yarra Bend netball facility progressing to delivery. This regional facility will provide a true home for netballers in the region, supporting existing need and future demand in the region.”