LAVINGTON Sportsground has almost certainly been ruled out as being available to host the 2018 Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League grand final with the $9 million redevelopment about to start.
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The venue which has hosted the grand final every year since 1995 remains in the mix this year along with Albury Sportsground and Norm Minns Oval at Wangaratta.
But Albury mayor Kevin Mack has given the strongest indication yet major works on the grandstand and changerooms scheduled during next year will force the grand final to be moved elsewhere.
“The grandstand, hospitality area, coaches and media boxes are significant parts of the development and will be ready and open by March 2019,” he said.
“I would expect there to be some inconvenience on the grandstand side.
“It is a regional facility and there has to be a little bit of pain to get a bit of gain.”
The council is hoping to retain the grand final at Lavington and also host a Big Bash cricket match in December before works start on the major oval in the new year.
O and M general manager Sean Barrett confirmed a decision on the grand final venue would be made at an August 14 board meeting.
Cr Mack was joined by Farrer MP Sussan Ley for a sod-turning ceremony on Thursday for the start of first-stage works for the adjacent secondary multi-purpose oval.
Melbourne-based Depan Group will demolish an old house in Centaur Road and carry out earthworks and levelling of the site before the sports field base and associated infrastructure including lighting is created.
Albury Council and the federal government are the major funding contributors towards the project.
Cr Mack said he had not given up hope of the NSW government coming to the party for the project given its strong financial position and an election looming in 2019.
“There is a truck full of money to be spent and unfortunately they are having difficulty backing the truck out,” he said.
“This is one project that will be out of the ground by 2019 and if they want to come in as late supporters and provide some funding we can do a lot more.”
The Lavington Sportsground upgrade was successful with federal cash from the National Stronger Regions funding pool.
An announcement on successful projects for the latest round is due “imminently”, according to Ms Ley.
“I know I've supported many really good projects,” she said.
“Everything can't be funded, but fingers crossed some things will be.”
