Civil engineering contractors A P Delaney & Co were awarded the civil works tender for Baranduda Fields at the July council meeting.
Cr John Watson moved the recommendation, saying it was a proud day.
“Our past councillor, Rodney Wangman, would be very proud of this day because we’ve worked for a long time to get this project up,” he said.
“We had some really great quality tenders for the civil works and it’s very pleasing with some emerging new companies within our city.
“A bit over $2.9 million dollars will be spent but, unfortunately, will see most of it underground to start with. That’s the sad thing when we spend lots of money, we don’t always see it visually.
“I am very happy to put this motion forward on a project that’s been in the making for a long time and what will be great for generations to come.”
The recommendation was carried unanimously.
Stage 1 works will include civil works (this contract), which includes bulk earthworks, access roads, intersection works at Baranduda Boulevard, drainage infrastructure, carparks, footpaths, shared paths, and services including water, sewer, and electrical works.
It will also include two netball courts (also to be delivered as part of this contract); two soccer fields; one soccer pavilion; one AFL/cricket oval; and one AFL/netball change rooms.
Baranduda Fields is a proposed sporting precinct of major regional significance.
It will be a destination offering unique and inclusive spaces for a variety of sporting, social interactions, recreation and leisure activities.
In 2013, consultants GHD prepared the initial masterplan which included extensive stakeholder and community consultation.
This masterplan was subsequently revised by Spiire in 2017 and SportEng in 2019.
Council made application to the Federal Government Community Development Grants Program to deliver stage one of the works and was successful in securing $10 million.
Council has allocated a further $10 million in budgets from the 2020/2021 financial year through to the 2022/2023 financial year.
A total budget of $20 million is available for the Baranduda Fields Stage 1 project.
Also on the agenda at the July council meeting was a tender for the Birallee Park Outdoor Cricket Net Construction.
Twenty-five tender documents were issued and three tender submissions were received.
The tender was awarded to Jacksons Earthmoving.
The company based in Wodonga has relevant experience completing similar works, having constructed three other cricket net facilities in the local area.
The recommendation was carried unanimously.
Following the recent construction of the Regional Indoor Cricket Hub at Birallee Park in West Wodonga, the council received additional grant funding to construct a new set of outdoor cricket training nets at the facility.
The new training nets will consist of four synthetic turf wickets and six turf wickets, along with a fielding and run-up area and associated fencing, netting, concrete footpaths and irrigation.
The new nets will not only replace the existing training nets within the Birallee Park football ground but increase the capacity and capability of the Cricket Hub facility.