Cromwell Sports Club gets community board support for upgrade
The Cromwell Sports Club’s upgrade plans to cater for a growing community were given a much-needed boost from the Cromwell Community Board (CCB) today.
The CCB considered a funding request from the Cromwell Sports Club Incorporated to upgrade its facilities on Anderson Park Recreation Reserve and agreed to release $69,333 from the Cromwell Sports Club Fund Reserve to the Club for the upgrade subject to the club achieving its fundraising targets from other funders.
The Club had also requested $250,000 in addition to the $69,333 Cromwell Sports Club Fund Reserve. The Board resolved to consider any further financial contribution towards the upgrade as part of the 2024-34 Long-term Plan process. This would allow for consultation with the community and enable the Board to make any future decisions around financial contributions based on the strategic direction set by the Open Spaces Strategy, which is currently under development but expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
The existing clubrooms were built in 1980 by the club on land leased from Council. Cromwell Sports Club Inc. has eight member clubs: Cromwell Rugby Football Club, Cromwell Junior Rugby Club, Cromwell Associated Football Club, Cromwell Basketball Club, Cromwell Cricket Club, Cromwell Lawn Tennis Club, Cromwell Netball Club and the Golden Oldies Netball Club.
Increasingly, the Sports Club was finding that its premises were no longer suitable for the growing Cromwell community, so in late 2019 the Club decided to embark on an upgrade programme. In May 2020, the Cromwell Community Board agreed to a variation of the club’s lease to increase the clubroom area to 727m2, to provide for the construction of new changing facilities and storage areas.
Club representatives, who are also having continued discussions with funding agencies, have been working with council staff from the Property, Parks and Community Development teams over recent months on a funding proposal for the Board’s consideration.
In its request the Sports Club advised that the existing premises were no longer suitable for the growing community and expressed the desire to future proof the building for the next 35+ years – acknowledging the 35+ years the club has been serving the Cromwell community.
The Club invested $40,000 on concept design plans that incorporated feedback from consultation with its members and the wider public. The proposed upgrade includes increasing the building from 146m2 to 250m2, adds four changing sheds to the building, improves accessibility and creates a small and large meeting room. The Club has estimated the costs to be around the $2.1 million mark and has been fundraising towards the cost of the upgrade with $200,000 raised to date.
