John Hall Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment

As part of our commitment to community health and wellbeing, we are redeveloping John Hall Reserve Pavilion at Dunne Street, Kingsbury.

Why is Council redeveloping this sporting pavilion?

The existing pavilion was rated as a priority for redevelopment in Council’s Outdoor Sport Infrastructure Framework assessment audit (2020), and its redevelopment is a strategic action in the Darebin Council Plan (2021—2025).

The building is largely outdated and has reached the end of its useful life. It requires complete redevelopment to meet the needs of a contemporary community sporting facility, capable of accommodating growing sports participation in the Kingsbury area, with a particular focus on women and girls.

What community benefits does the pavilion’s redevelopment offer?

Council will deliver a newly redeveloped facility with gender-inclusive changerooms, a publicly accessible toilet and community social rooms to complement the recent installation of sports field lighting to meet current sporting requirements and community needs. This will ensure more community members from all ages, genders and backgrounds have access to facilities that enable healthy, social and active lifestyles.

Following consultation and advice from tenant sporting clubs and state sporting bodies, the new design includes:

• Social function room
• Kitchen / kiosk and associated storage
• Two (2) gender neutral and inclusive team change rooms, showers and toilets
• Referee change rooms (gender-inclusive) with showers and toilet
• One (1) publicly accessible toilet
• Storage
• First Aid Room

Does the pavilion’s redevelopment meet established sustainability standards?

The pavilion’s new design exceeds Council’s ESD policy requirements, which are over and above that of the National Construction Code. The design incorporates many sustainability measures including:

• Reticulation of catchment water
• Solar PV system
• Heat pump hot water units
• All electric, high efficiency appliances
• Great passive design principles

What are the current project timelines, and when will this pavilion be constructed?

Who was involved in the consultation process?

We completed targeted consultation with several user groups and stakeholders throughout the design process. They include:

• Tenant sporting clubs
• Football Victoria
• Cricket Victoria
• Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
• External Heritage Advisor
• Darebin Creek Management Committee
• Zoologist
• External services authorities
• Internal Council departments

How will the redevelopment of John Hall Reserve sporting pavilion impact its users?

Some disruption and inconvenience is expected for neighbouring residents and ground users during the works period. There will be no pavilion or car park access during the construction period.

Construction noise will be governed through Council’s General Local Law 2015. Learn about action we can take with unreasonable building and construction noise.

Pedestrian access will be maintained to John Hall Reserve Oval from Dunne Street. Alternative car parking is available at CW Kirkwood Reserve, opposite John Hall Reserve. Alternative public toilet facilities are located at Arch Gibson Reserve, 300 metres from John Hall Reserve Pavilion.

Who can I speak to with further enquiries?

If you have further questions or feedback regarding this project, please contact Suranga Dissakarunaratne, Team Leader Leisure Services, on 03 8470 8302 or email us at leisure@darebin.vic.gov.au.