HORSHAM'S Dudley Cornell Park is one step closer to having brand new female-friendly changerooms.
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Horsham Rural City Council awarded a tender for the construction of the facilities at its April meeting.
The council received a grant of $100,000 through Sports and Recreation Victoria in 2017 for construction of the facilities and the council budgeted $160,000 for the remainder of the works. The total funding available for the project was $260,000.
Horsham-based Locks Construction was the cheapest tender applicant and was successful in receiving the tender for the lump sum of $303,201.
This means the council will have to allocate additional funding of $43,201 to cover the costs of the project.
In her report to the council, infrastructure project manager Madelein van Heerden said current facilities at the ground were old and outdated.
"They do not provide female changerooms (and) the current clubrooms have no space available to be allocated to female change facilities," she said in her report.
"The new facility will also provide a universal access toilet and shower, and four unisex public toilets At present there is no public universal access toilet with the precinct."
Ms van Heerden proposed the council sourced additional budget costs from its unspent Infrastructure Gap funding.
The project was developed in collaboration with Horsham Little Athletics Club, Colts Cricket Club, Black Rangers Division of Primary Schools, Horsham Soccer Club and AFL Wimmera Mallee. All stakeholders were in favour of the new facilities.
Councillor Les Power said there was a shortage of female-friendly sporting ground facilities in the region.
"We have a facility at Dudley Cornell Park that has been fantastic for male-dominated sports, now we're seeing football, cricket and other sports being played more by women. It's great to see that Horsham has stood up and recognised that these facilities need to be upgraded," he said.
The old facilities will be demolished and the new facilities will be open 24/7. Construction started at the site in February.
The motion to award the tender and allocated additional funding of the project was carried with all councillors in favour.
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