NETBALLERS and the Yarra Ranges community celebrated the official opening of the Pinks Reserve Regional Netball Facility last Thursday.
The official opening marks years of hard work by the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Netball Association and Yarra Ranges Shire lobbying for the project.
The facility means the reserve, including Kilsyth Sports Centre and football and cricket club, is now a premier sports precinct.
The facility has 12 outdoor netball courts, including seven with lighting, and a new pavilion and car park.
It is now home to the 2000 netballers and more than 200 teams of the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Netball Association.
Toni Madden, Lilydale and Yarra Valley Netball Association President, said the league is ecstatic.
“We’re thrilled to be there,” he said.
“The courts look great and are so much safer.”
The facility will host training and competitions run by Lilydale and Yarra Valley Netball Association, which will help grow the sport in the region.
The council proudly supported the project with a $5 million contribution.
The Victorian Government provided $500,000, the netball association $300,000, with $50,000 from the Bendigo Bank and $60,000 from the Federal Government.
Cr Len Cox said this is the realisation of a long-held ambition.
“I’ve been actively working for at least 15 years to see new netball courts built to replace the ageing ones in Mooroolbark,” he said.
“It was a much-need facility which will be used.
“The standard of netball has actually improved as no-one is worried about falling over and hurting themselves.
“Our netballers are even happy to come to training because the courts look so good under the new lights.”
