Redeveloped Skinner Reserve in Braybrook open
Published February 13, 2023
Neighbors, visitors and players can now enjoy a rehabilitated Skinner Reservation in Braybrook.
Considered by many to be the “Heart of Braybrook” – the reserve is a community focal point that offers green open spaces that support sporting use by elite and community alike, and is home to a number of well-used community facilities including the Braybrook Community Hub and the Airplane Park Playground, Skinner Reserve Oval and Pavilion. It also hosts training sessions and is a venue for local sports clubs during the winter months.
Over the past 12 months, the $3 million redevelopment, funded jointly by Council and new tenants, Western Bulldogs Football Club (WBFC), has delivered upgrades to the playing surface and surrounding area to accommodate sports use and to improve and support leisure.
This includes relocating more than 19,500 square feet of couch grass on the oval, which due to its durability and more efficient irrigation, will provide better use for the community as well as athletic competition and training activities.
A new 506 m two-lane all-weather running track was also built around the oval. It has been covered in artificial grass to provide a safe and durable surface that offers a level of shock absorption to support all abilities from avid runners to beginners and children.
New underground drainage and irrigation systems have been installed to facilitate floor maintenance and alleviate previous problems with water accumulation on the playing surface. Also, to improve safety and accessibility, four new floodlight towers with energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures were erected around the facility to support night-time use of the facility.
Other facility upgrades include new coach boxes, perimeter fences, AFL goal posts, goal safety nets, spectator seats and an electronic scoreboard.
Check out the transformation in the time-lapse video below.
Message from the Mayor, Cr Sarah Carter
It is great to see this significant upgrade complete and our community once again able to enjoy the full range of facilities on the Skinner Reservation.
Community sports and open spaces are highly valued by our community and this redevelopment will help ensure this popular facility in the heart of Braybrook offers quality facilities and amenities for the local community – now and for generations to come.
Maribyrnong News
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