By BEN CAMERON
THE Catani sporting community and local tradespeople have joined forces to ensure a pavilion extension servicing local netball and tennis clubs, goes ahead.
The project appeared stalled after Cardinia Shire Council put out tenders in December with all five quotes soaring above the council’s budget of $250,000 by at least $150,000.
However the netball club said they would draw on their own skills, and local contacts, to make sure the pavilion was completed by July, with designs drawn up by netball club committee member, player and draftsperson Jaylee Fitzpatrick.
“We will project manage the entire thing,” she said.
“We said we can do it cheaper, so we got our own quotes.
“We have had a lot of local trades and suppliers quote this very cheaply which is great.
“We are hoping to start as soon as we get the building permit.”
The extension of the current facilities, which were built in the mid-1980s, will include two change rooms, showers, toilets and a medical room.
Existing social rooms will also be refurbished.
Catani Netball Club president Angela Banbury said new facilities were needed.
“We’ve outgrown them,” she said.
“We’ll do it ourselves, in a way. Use local builders, plasterers, plumbers, cabinet makers.”
Fully funded by council, the project is expected to come in at $270,000.
Port Ward Councillor David Young said it was a perfect example of a community working together.
“A strong community can deliver community assets when the need arises,” he said.
Ranges Ward Cr Tania Baxter said it could set a precedent.
“I just love stories like this, I think it’s just fabulous, it’s a feel good story,” she said.
“It’s a story about communities that work for positive outcomes. Go Catani.”
The council will oversee project works, which are hoped to begin this week and be completed by July.
