Vermont Reserve Redevelopment
The redeveloped and extended Vermont Reserve oval was officially opened on Monday 15th April, after seven months of work and an investment of $2.1M. Whitehorse Councilors and staff were in attendance at the opening, along with officials from Vermont Football Club, Vermont Eagles Junior Football Club, Vermont Cricket Club and Vermont Primary School. The ground renewal project included a $340,000 contribution from the State Government.
The ground redvelopment included:
- An extension of the sporting field of 5 metres in length and adjustments to width, increasing the sports field area from 13,270m2 to 13,800m2.
- Safety netting behind both goals to improve protection of the play space and cars from footballs and cricket balls.
- A concrete perimeter footpath to allow for improved useability of the reserve, providing the option for perimeter walkers/runners to stay off the grass.
- Perimeter synthetic grass around the western boundary line to maintain a viable surface in a high use area for the winter season.
- Extended synthetic cricket wicket run ups to reduce ongoing maintenance costs.
The ground was last updated over 30 years ago and the surface had not been able to be maintained to satisfactory conditions and due to increased usage. The ground was closed for training and matches for a number of weeks during last season. Vermont Reserve was the smallest and skinniest oval out of all of the premier sporting fields in Whitehorse prior to the redevelopment.
The renewal has now maximised the area working within the perimeters of carparks, pavilion, cricket nets, playground and boundaries and compares favourably now to other nearby sporting fields. It is home to over 700 senior and junior players from the Vermont Football Netball Club and over 300 players from the Vermont Cricket Club. The oval and open space is also used by the 765 students of Vermont Primary School, as well as many community members who casually use the ground.
Thank you to Steven Bolt from Evergreen Turf who delivered the oval upgrade project and to Justin Quinn, Sportsfields Coordinator from Whitehorse Council, who managed the project from start to finish. Thanks also to Whitehorse Councillor, Prue Cutts, for all her support pushing and promoting the redevelopment over the past 18 months.
