By Parker McKenzie
A delighted Upper Ferntree Gully Football Club has been handed over the keys to its repaired clubrooms at Kings Park just in time for the new footy season, after over a season without access.
The club lost access to the club rooms on 16 June 2021 after a roof leak caused the facilities to be deemed hazardous by the Knox City Council.
Knox City Council said the damage was caused by water leaking through the roof due to an old roof-mounted air conditioning unit and a leaking cool room.
The completion date for the repairs was repeatedly pushed back by the council, from December 2021 to October 2022, before finally being completed in March 2023.
“The repairs are taking longer than we expected. As we get on with the work we are finding more problems such as unsafe electrical wires, which need to be fixed to make sure the building is safe,” the council said in 2022.
“The roof repairs were subject to weather conditions which caused some delays. We expect further delays in replacing the floor due to pressures in the construction industry including the availability of materials and contractors.”
The club estimated it would lose $75,000 during the 2022 season as it struggled with player retention, having to run out of multiple marquees and shipping containers as they awaited repairs to the building.
In that time, the club battled cold weather, winds tearing down the temporary marquees and relegation from division one.
After hiring new coach Mark Fisher, the club will be hoping to make a splash in its first game at home against Heathmont on Saturday 1 April.
