Macedon sporting clubs have called for upgrades to Tony Clarke Reserve to keep pace with surging participation.
User groups have united in a bid to improve facilities including clubroom upgrades, female-friendly changerooms to support club growth, and an overarching plan for the reserve’s future.
Macedon Football Netball Club president Ron Rutledge said the precinct was in desperate need of upgrades across several areas.
“It’s bursting at the seams and training is unworkable with one oval and court, and lacking changeroom facilities,” he said.
“Macedon is often not seen as a growth corridor but we’re affected by the growth in the shire. We have the benefit of people in those areas joining our club. We have more members joining from outside Macedon than from Macedon itself.”
Mr Rutledge said nearly half of Macedon’s netballers and footballers, including juniors, were female, yet, they had no dedicated changerooms or facilities.
He said the changerooms were shared and the shower area was one big communal open space without a door. There’s a urinal next to it also without a door.
Mr Rutledge said the current facilities at the grounds were rat and mice infested, due to their age, and were in need of an upgrade.
“It’s at crisis level now. We need to get things happening,” he said.
The club currently has one senior AFLW team and three junior female football teams and 12 netball teams, yet just one court to play and train on. Netballers currently need to travel to Gisborne for court space.
Other Tony Clarke Reserve user groups include Macedon Ranges Bowling Club, Macedon Cricket Club, Macedon Junior Football Netball Club and Macedon Tennis Club.
Macedon Cricket Club president Steve Harrison said the changerooms were “deplorable” and “terrible for female players”.
To improve use of the grounds, the club is also seeking funding to put lighting at its nets and a future fourth net.
The cricket club has 175 members including 15 senior women and 28 junior girls, with interest growing.
Macedon Tennis Club president Mark Thomas agreed the reserve was “bursting at the seams”.
“The whole precinct has been out-grown and there really needs to be long-term plan in place,” he said.
“We are growing rapidly as a club. At the junior end we have almost tripled in growth.”
Mr Thomas said club growth had “exploded in the past two years” and continuing strong junior interest was a focus. He said the club wanted to host the district’s first hot-shots courts at the reserve. The club has 250 members and demand to host more.
However, the tennis club also has four courts with surfaces that have reached the end of life, and a need for lighting to be upgraded to a consistent appropriate standard.
Mr Thomas said the clubrooms were also in need of upgrading, along with the external surrounds, and traffic management improvements at the reserve.
COUNCIL SEEKS FUNDING
Macedon Ranges Shire councillors met with user groups at the reserve last week to discuss their needs. While some of those projects are now progressing, Dom Testoni, council’s director of assets and operations, indicated the council still awaited external funding outcomes on at least three upgrades.
“Council has completed detailed designs for upgrades to the Macedon Ranges Bowling clubrooms and the Tony Clarke Pavilion changerooms and amenities. Construction of both projects is subject to securing future funding,” he said.
“Council has applied to Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Country Football and Netball program for $250,000 to deliver upgraded, female-friendly changerooms that meet AFL and Cricket Australia standards.
“A further $380,000 has been committed in council’s Draft 2026/27 Budget to support the project if the application is successful. Outcomes are expected in July 2026.”
The Express understands past works include stadium roof repairs to address ongoing water leaks (earlier this month), upgraded cricket practice nets for the Macedon Cricket Club in 2020, installation of LED sports oval lighting in 2019, and funding towards replacement tennis court fencing.
The council’s recently adopted Open Space Strategy identifies a new master plan for Tony Clarke Reserve as a medium-term priority.
Mr Testoni acknowledged the previous master plan, which was adopted in 2003, with many of its key outcomes now delivered or incorporated into broader strategies.
He said the council would continue to support the reserve’s user groups through planning, design and advocacy.