MCKENZIE THOMPSON

REDEVELOPMENT of the facilities at Wasleys Recreation Park have been given the green light, with changes expected at the site within the next 12 months.

In collaboration with Light Regional Council, Wasleys Oval Working Group, and Wasleys Community Group, the recreation park, located on Station Street, will house public toilets, clubrooms and functional kitchen and storage areas.

Council’s property and facilities manager, Megan Renzella, said the whole process has been progressing well.

“The group of local residents who I invited to form the working group have reported back to the committee to keep them in the loop,” she said.

Working group member and Wasleys resident Lew Richter said the idea to upgrade the park was born five years ago, however plans to fund the new facilities only came about during the past  financial year.

“Council had money left over in their 2018/19 budget for it,” he said.

“From the new housing development, they also had a lot of money left over, so (we thought) it would be great if that could be spent on the new facility.

“With the new development, it has brought lots of families to the town, so there is a growing family demographic here and the need for new facilities to accommodate that.

“We may not be able to have our own club, but we can bring Auskick and invite other sporting clubs to be able to utilise the facilities.”

Fellow working group member Lynette Marker said the council had been supportive throughout the whole process, and had listened to the community.

“Toilets have been the screaming thing that the people want,” she said.

“With this new estate, people come to the oval and there are no toilets; it has been addressed and I think the message has got through.

“With this beautiful oval that has been created, it would be great to see it being utilised.”

Ms Marker said the community can expect the park to undergo changes within the next year.