Royal Park pavilions to be redeveloped

By Jack Alfonso

Brens and Ryder Pavilions will receive multi-million-dollar upgrades after City of Melbourne councillors gave the all clear on revitalising the Royal Park sporting and recreation facilities last month.

The plans, supported by councillors at the Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting on February 16, will provide expanded, gender neutral and universally accessible change room facilities designed to increase participation in sport, with particular emphasis on women

Describing the current facilities as “completely inadequate” Melbourne University Rugby Club representative Rick Boykett said the project was, “the most important redevelopment for community sport” in his 40 years at the club.

“Women interest continues to grow,” he said.

“We urgently need facilities that are gender neutral.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the plans would revitalise Brens and Ryder Pavilion to create local jobs and “provide a boost to community sport”.

“Everyone should feel included in community sport so we’re planning to deliver eight gender neutral change rooms at Brens Pavilion and six at Ryder Pavilion,” she said.
Hosting 375 community teams per week including 90 female teams pre-COVID, the pavilions cater to AFL, gridiron, rugby, and cricket teams using the corresponding ovals.

The Lord Mayor added that the pavilions would provide better facilities for local clubs and community groups, whose feedback had been factored into the proposed designs.

“We’ve spoken to local clubs, and they’ve told us that they need better change rooms, better storage and more inclusive and accessible facilities,” she said.

The project was included in the council’s 2020/21 Budget and Annual Plan and aims to increase and upgrade accessible and inclusive spaces for women and girls in City of Melbourne sporting facilities.

Consultations undertaken pre-COVID with both resident association and park groups had led to concerns over an expanded pavilion footprint and increased social activity in the area.

In the current design, sustainable features such as passive climate control through natural ventilation, double glazing on all windows, and wide eaves to shade the façade are to be included in the upgrades according to the council’s health, wellbeing and belonging portfolio chair Cr Olivia Ball.

“The pavilions will be larger than the existing buildings to give our clubs more space, but will be nestled into the park and well-integrated with the surrounding environment,” she said.

“Solar panels will be used to power the pavilions and rainwater will be captured for on-site reuse. At Brens Pavilion, excess asphalt will be removed to make way for more trees and shrubs.”

Construction on the Ryder Pavilion is expected to begin once the Western Pavilion is completed, with all projects anticipated to be finished by 2023 •