We are proposing to upgrade the Ferndale Park pavilion in Glen Iris. These upgrades would take place between 2023–2025 to better meet the needs of the community and sports clubs, including:

• St Mary’s Salesian Amateur Football Club
• Ashburton Willows Cricket Club
• Hawthorn U3A.

Proposed upgrades to the existing pavilion include 4 new changerooms built into the lower-level extension. These changerooms would have better facilities for women, and are part of our efforts to support female sports teams and encourage female sports participation through our Diversity, Inclusion and Participation Program.

The upgrades would also include an improved, larger multi-purpose space, which can be used by Hawthorn U3A who can continue to run small educational classes of less than 20 people in the pavilion, during the hours of 9am and 3pm.

Other upgrade works would include:

• an extension of the lower level, built into the existing embankment, with no changes to resident views
• a public toilet with external access
• 2 umpires’ rooms
• a first aid room
• improvements to the kitchen and kiosk areas
• increased storage spaces
• a new brick paved entry piazza, located between the pavilion and scout hall and next to the existing barbecue facility
• a sheltered spectator terrace, connecting to the multipurpose space and newly landscaped surrounds
• a covered walkway along the oval level, complete with protective mesh screen, providing safe visibility of on-field activity
• improvements to the concrete ramp for better accessibility and wheelchair access
• lighting upgrades for improved safety during night-time use of the pavilion and pavilion surrounds.

Due to current condition and proximity to the construction site, we would also need to remove one existing Eucalyptus and one Algerian Oak. We would offset these with new trees planted south of the renewed pavilion. Tree protection fencing would be installed around all remaining trees located within the construction zone.

We have carefully considered the proposed design of the upgraded pavilion to make sure it:

• supports our sustainability efforts
• does not impact views of nearby residents
• increases accessibility
• is a welcoming and useful place for the community.

As part of the proposed design, we would:

• use recycled brick cladding for the pavilion
• shape the newly designed pavilion to wrap around the north-eastern end of the oval and emphasise the shape of the playing field
• re-build and lengthen the existing concrete ramp
• add a new concrete staircase up to a roof terrace with a steel canopy cover
• extend the terrace into the existing hill to complement the Ferndale Park landscape
• include a brick paved community piazza next to the existing barbecue facility. This would create a welcoming entry point and provide a community gathering space that has easy access to the new pavilion and the public toilet.