North Beach Soccer Club facility upgrade

The North Beach Soccer Club facilities at Charles Riley Reserve in Trigg will soon receive an upgrade, with the City recently awarding a tender for a range of improvements.

The scope of works was awarded to Schlager Group Pty Ltd and will include:

• the replacement of the existing roof with a new metal roof
• refurbishment of four changerooms
• construction of two new universal accessible toilets (UATs)
• creation of two new storerooms (one internal and one external through an extension)
• installation of a new commercial kitchen exhaust hood.

Mayor Mark Irwin said the works would improve the facility and address legislative and compliance standards.

“With our diverse population, it is important that the City supports and encourages residents to be part of their local communities, which includes providing access to a range of opportunities to support an active lifestyle,” he said.

“The City is proud to have a reputation for delivering exemplary open spaces and facilities for its community, and we look forward to delivering quality, well-maintained facilities at Charles Riley that meet the needs of our current and future soccer community.

“The clubhouse used by the North Beach Soccer Club requires a renewal to enhance the building for users. The upgrades included in this tender will improve this facility and bring it in line with modern standards.”

President of the North Beach Soccer Club Simon Collins thanked the City of Stirling and said with community sports significantly disrupted during recent years, we had all come to appreciate the need for continued sports and community development.

“It’s not just the players on the field that will benefit from the developments, it’s their families watching, the local businesses sponsoring, the sharing of food and drink, creating deeper connections amongst the community who enjoy the mental health benefits of the game,” he said.

The project is fully funded by a $950,000 grant from Round 3 of the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI).

The clubrooms are situated on the Charles Riley Memorial Reserve, the site of a $1.6 million community parkland and masterplan process delivered by the City in 2015, and are designed to integrate the Charles Riley sporting facilities and the ANZAC Memorial.

The parkland includes a large, shaded children’s play area that includes a flying fox and functional play public art, war memorial, multiple shelters with tables and seating, barbecues and drink fountains, and a large grassed informal play area and natural landscaping.

The reserve is named after Charles Owen Riley, who at the age of 31, drowned whilst trying to save three girls who were caught in rough waters off Waterman's Bay during 1954. He was a member of the 2/3rd Commando Unit in World War 2, a taxi truck operator and lived with his wife and two children on West Coast Highway, Waterman's Bay. His father, Archbishop Riley, dedicated the reserve on 23 September 1958.