By Mikayla van Loon
The start of construction on the Mount Evelyn Sports and Community Hub (MESCH) was officially acknowledged with a sod turning to mark the historic day.
Mount Evelyn football and cricket club members were met by state, federal and council leaders at the construction site on Friday 4 February.
MESCH president Bryan McCarthy said he was so pleased to finally see some movement on the build after a long effort in getting to this stage.
Campaigning from both Yarra Ranges Council and community members to establish a design for the new building and get it approved, funded and ready to go took over six years.
“This is a significant event for Mount Evelyn. We’ve been on a significant trail for a great deal of time now,” Mayor Jim Child said.
“To see what’s going on in the background is just amazing and when you think of what was here before this all started, this is going to be so much better.”
Mayor Child said these types of projects are the ones the community benefit from the most, particularly with the inclusion of female sport as a priority.
“To see the involvement in female participation in sport and also the cricket and footy that goes on at the moment is just absolutely outstanding,” he said.
“So to have this facility, delivered now, with the contributions from the State government, the council and also the Federal government, we really look forward to the progression of this project.”
As a five million dollar project, collaboration between all levels of government was required to fund the build, alongside significant contributions from the sporting clubs.
Casey MP Tony Smith said he was proud to pledge one million dollars towards the project at the last election but has been pleased to work with Monbulk MP James Merlino to see the project get started.
“It’s a partnership where we’ve come together but that partnership matters. It’s the three levels of government and as you
“When James and I look at the challenges that have been here, it’s fantastic for you, the footballers and the netballers, to see them being overcome.”
Mr Merlino said after completing facilities in Montrose, Wandin, Olinda and Monbulk, it was time Mount Evelyn saw its new pavilion get off the ground.
“It’s years of a lot of sweat and tears, planning hurdles, getting the funding. Two steps forward one step back. It is literally years and years and years,” he said.
“So everyone representing the footy netball club, the cricket club, juniors and seniors. Mount Evelyn’s known to have a really strong netball program, a really strong women’s program, this is a club going places and it’s your turn.”
Although it took quite a while to get to the sod turning ceremony, Mr Smith and Mr Merlino both said it would all be worth it once the first class facilities open to the clubs and teams to use.
Delays due to Covid-19 pushed the project starting date back by six months, with works only getting underway earlier this year.
Yarra Ranges Council expects the build to still be completed by the end of the year but Covid-19 is still causing some delays with materials and labour.
The next step in the project is laying the concrete which should be completed by the end of the month.
By the end of the project not only will it have new club rooms and change rooms but a community facility to host functions and events with an innovative design to make it completely accessible and wheelchair friendly.
