By Kerri-Anne Mesner
LONG-AWAITED new sporting changing rooms at Errington Reserve and McKechnie Reserve in St Albans will go ahead in the next financial year.
Draft council budget documents leaked to Star show that $410,000 will be allocated for the new changing rooms at Errington Reserve, which will incorporate a canteen area, and the installation of lights donated by St Albans Sports Club.
A further $400,000 has been allocated for changing rooms at McKechnie Reserve.
St Albans Junior Football Club president Michael Psailia said he had lived in St Albans all of his life and had been associated with the football club for about 25 years — and he could only remember the existing change rooms at Errington Reserve ever receiving a coat of paint at times.
“There has been no upgrade of facilities for a long time,” he said.
Mr Psailia said there were nine junior football teams with about 30 players each, and some female junior football players, that use the facilities on a regular basis during the football season.
He said the St Albans Sports Club had donated four light towers, which were still in good working order, after the club had replaced them with new lights.
Other items in the leaked budget papers that will benefit St Albans and Deer Park include $200,000 for more car parking spaces in Alfredia St, and $400,000 for improvements at Sassella Park including a new war memorial and a children’s playground.