SPORTS people of Dubbo will soon have a place to cool off after a game with construction of a new clubhouse to begin as soon as next month.
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Dubbo City Council staff met with delegates from junior rugby union and Dubbo senior cricket yesterday to review the site where the clubhouse would be built.
Located between Victoria Park's No. 2 and No. 3 ovals, stage one of the works will result in an amenities block, changing rooms, a canteen, toilets, storage areas and a viewing platform.
President of the Dubbo and District Cricket Association Warren Saunders said it would be a place for all oval users, including participants of the Primary School Sports Association (PSSA) and players of rugby league and union.
"A clubhouse is desperately needed as these two ovals are two of the most used ovals in the city," he said.
"It's a long process but we're hoping to pull it off, the same way the Touch footy clubhouse was built last year."
Since his first meeting with council about five years ago, Saunders drew up a rough plan of the clubhouse, falling in line with council's "grander vision of Victoria Park".
The building is to be situated close to the ovals, acting as a base for a variety of sporting clubs and a place they can store their equipment.
"You can see little caravans scattered across the two ovals filled with sporting equipment, which is an eyesore. This clubhouse has been a long time coming.
"It'll be a real community effort once development is up and running.
"We're hoping to get a few tradies and professionals to help with the building in a 12-week bill. The benefits will be enormous once it's finished."
Building will begin in four to six weeks with a goal of 12 weeks for completion of the Victoria Park project.
The ground level will be the priority, with Saunders hoping to have at least one or two change-rooms and a canteen operational by the end of April (after the 2013 football season starts).
Quite like the Dubbo Roos clubhouse at No. 1 Oval, the new clubhouse will have club and function rooms, offices and a viewing platform.
Council's manager of sporting facilities Wes Giddings said community groups could hire the room out for functions and meetings.
"We've been working on this project behind the scenes but we're after some volunteers to lend a helping hand," he said.
"If we go hard like the Touch clubhouse we could get it all done in 10 weeks. The footy teams could start using it during the first half of their season if we put in a lot of hours to complete it."
Residents are urged to visit the Amenities Block Victoria Park Ovals page on Facebook to find out more information on how to get involved.