A joint project between the State Government and Yarra City Council, the multi-purpose, multi-level facility is set to become a popular inner-city community and sports hub. When completed, it will feature two levels of multi-purpose courts, a more than 1000sqm gymnasium, lounge and cafe area, reception, change rooms, community facilities and additional change rooms for the umpires.
Mayor of Yarra Sophie Wade said the start of the long-awaited project was exciting, adding:
“We need greater investment in sport and recreation facilities across Yarra and the inner-city and the Fitzroy Sports Centre will play an important role as both a local and regional sporting facility in the years to come.”
The Mayor said the sports centre is being constructed as part of the Fitzroy Gasworks Precinct and will be built and designed to integrate with Wurun Senior Campus' new indoor sports courts. This will provide shared use between the facilities with six courts available for use outside hours spent at school.
New facilities such as the sports centre also provide extra opportunities for local businesses, such as professional printing services that are often enlisted to create signage.
The centre features a vertical design which is becoming a popular way to provide sports facilities in inner-city, built-up areas where finding appropriately-sized blocks at the right price is becoming increasingly more difficult.