New plans for club rooms

THE first steps towards a refurbished Springvale Recreation Club were taken this week after Greater Dandenong council commenced preliminary planning.
The Star first reported on the dilapidated facility at Newcomen Reserve in May when club figureheads expressed relocation concerns after the council closed the club rooms in May.
The council has agreed to invest $400,000 into refurbishing the club rooms while council officers complete a full assessment of the Springvale Recreation Club’s building. “As a major community facility within the Springvale area it is vital we understand the best use for this asset,” Greater Dandenong’s community services director June Dugina said.
“The building, together with the grandstand and the media box, has been assessed from a maintenance and safety perspective.
“We have also completed improvement works to the seasonal sport club rooms.
“This will help minimise disruptions when construction work begins on the Springvale Recreation Club Rooms.”
Engineering services director Tim Tamlin said the work would be staged over two years.
He said $400,000 had been provided in the 2008/09 budget and it was expected additional funding would be provided in the next financial year.
Mr Tamlin said the council’s next step was to commission an architect and finalise a design brief.
It is hoped the community would be able to access the building in early 2009 and that it would be fully operational by early 2010.