Navarre Recreation Reserve | New Changerooms & Upgraded Function Space

The Navarre Recreation Reserve Facility Upgrade project is an outcome of the Navarre Community Plan.

The reserve is the home of the Navarre Sports Association which incorporates the Navarre Football Netball Club and Navarre Cricket Club. This project is a major priority for the community and will help ensure the future sustainability and participation levels and the upgrade is particularly important for supporting participation in female players.

Non-sport users include the Navarre Historical Society, Landcare Group, Country Fire Authority, Primary School, and local church groups therefore this project will support the broader Navarre community.

The reserve is considered a community hub and the existing pavilion no longer meets the needs of the sporting clubs or community and requires an upgrade to ensure long-term sustainability. The proposed works would conform to AFL, Cricket Australia and Netball Victoria facility standards and incorporate the following works:

Four female-friendly changerooms with amenities.
Two female-friendly umpires changerooms with amenities.
Upgraded function and social space.
Upgraded public amenities.

Overview

The need for an enhanced facility upgrade was identified as a priority within the Navarre Community Plan and the Council Action Plan 2023-24. The existing social rooms, changerooms and available amenities do not meet AFL Victoria, Cricket Victoria and Netball Victoria standards, particularly changeroom accessibility requirements.

Following the extensive consultation identifying the need and requirements, Northern Grampians Shire Council worked with the Navarre Sports Association on a concept design of the facility for an area schedule between 2019 and 2022. This concept design was used to advocate for external project funding which was achieved in July 2022 from the State Government with the funding agreement finalised in October.

The council went to tender for Design and Construction for the project in late 2023 for the changerooms as Stage 1 and awarded the contract in March 2024 to Onley Constructions for the changerooms. A Stage 2 tender process was progressed for the social room upgrade with the contract awarded to Build Fourth in August 2025.

The design for the new facility was developed through a project control group comprising Sport and Recreation Victoria, AFL, Netball Victoria, Cricket Victoria, Navarre Sports Association and council.

Engagement

AFL Victoria Audit completed June 2017.
Navarre Community Plan engagement February 2022.
Northern Grampians Shire Advocacy for funding 2019-2022.
State Government Funding announced July 2022.
Meeting with Navarre Sports Association August 2022.
Establishment of formal funding agreement with Victorian State Government 31 October 2022.
Project Control Group (PCG) formed comprising Sport and Recreation Victoria, AFL, Netball Victoria, Cricket Victoria, Navarre Sports Association and Northern Grampians Shire Council to create design.
Design signoff by PCG November 2024.