By Mikayla Van Loon
The Pinks Reserve netball precinct welcomed the official opening of the longtime coming court covers last weekend.
The project which initially saw two courts covered was finally able to unveil and see an additional four courts used with covers on Saturday 4 March at the launch of the netball season.
As a mostly autumn and winter sport, the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Netball Association had called for more courts to have roof structures put in place to ensure games could continue in the wet and rainy months.
Not only will this ensure the safety of the players but allow the season to proceed without too many scheduling difficulties due to inclement weather.
The upgrades came as part of a $10.5 million precinct renewal to provide the region with state of the art facilities, able to cater to the sporting community.
Valley Netball is one of the largest regional netball associations in Melbourne and the largest in the Yarra Ranges Shire with over 5300 annual participants.
It sees 530 teams and 24 clubs from Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Kilsyth, Croydon, Ringwood, Healesville, Chirnside Park and other suburbs in the valley and outer east come to the centre.
The Saturday competition attracts over 5000 people every week and more than 250,000 people visit Pinks Reserve every year.
Although disappointed by the delay in the court covers being ready, the unveiling was a welcomed event.
On the day, Monbulk MP Daniela de Martino and Yarra Ranges Councillor Len Cox also toured the new two storey Gary Tait Pavilion which is under construction at the football/cricket oval and did a sod turning at the Kilsyth Basketball Stadium as it prepares for extensions.
“Kilsyth’s Pinks Reserve is the area’s major hub for all things sport, and it’s important that locals have modern and accessible sporting facilities so people can get out and get active,” Ms de Martino said.
“The new court covers are just one of several new facilities being rolled out at the hub that will provide a great base for local clubs and their members to take their sports to the next level.”
