Upgrades to Melba Oval now complete

New upgrades to the Melba Neighbourhood Oval pavilion and a new canteen are now complete. The upgrades will make playing and watching sport in West Belconnen a more comfortable experience.

The upgrades include:

• heating in the changing rooms
• privacy screens at the entry to the changing rooms
• lighting
• mirrors, vanities and shelves
• toilet cubicles
• an accessible toilet with a foldaway baby change table
• power points adjacent to wet areas
• lockable shower cubicles
• hygiene disposal points
• nonslip flooring.

Sports to use the oval include rugby league, touch football, soccer and cricket.

Spectators cheering on their team will also benefit with:

• three new public toilets (two unisex and one accessible)
• a new water refill station
• bike racks
• a new canteen featuring a digital art wrap highlighting some iconic Canberra images.

A barbecue area is also close by. It is securely caged off to allow storage and for groups to cook the traditional fundraiser brunches and lunches.

“These enhancements will significantly improve the experience for our players, volunteers and the entire community, fostering a more welcoming, inclusive and comfortable environment for everyone in our club,” Belconnen United Sharks Junior Rugby League Club President Matt Brown said.

“As all sports, including the great game of rugby league, look to continue to grow female participant numbers in community sports, having more dedicated change rooms enhances our ability to make everyone feel welcome, valued and respected as they engage in junior sports in large part thanks to our new and upgraded facilities.”

Cricket ACT is pleased to see the upgrade works completed.

“For cricket in the Territory to continue on its current nation-leading trajectory of growth, we need to ensure male and female players of all abilities are able to compete in the best possible facilities, and we’re excited to see what impact these and other facility improvements around the region will have on our great game,” Cricket ACT Territory Infrastructure Manager Lauren Coates said.

The Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund made possible through Cricket Australia. Cricket ACT also helped to contribute to the upgrades to the pavilion with $25,000.