New pavilion the final piece of the puzzle

A local builder has been awarded the almost $2 million contract to refurbish the Warragul soccer pavilion.
Cr Joe Gauci labelled the works "the final piece of the puzzle" for the Baxter Park precinct, with Baw Baw Shire last week awarding $1,979,405.95 to James G Morrison Pty Ltd to undertake the works.
A feature of the upgraded pavilion will be female-friendly player and official amenities.

Preliminary site works have already been undertaken and the project is expected to be completed in March next year.
The recently formed Gippsland United Football Club - amalgamating Warragul United Soccer Club, Gippsland Football Club and Latrobe United Women's Football Club - were recently granted $80,000 by council for temporary changerooms on site. This will enable the club's growing membership of 460 players, of which 30 per cent are female, to continue playing on the new $2 million synthetic pitch at Baxter Park this upcoming season.
An officer report described the existing soccer pavilion "no longer fit for purpose or compliant".
It said the upgrade would offer home and away player changerooms and amenities; officials changerooms and amenities; pitch-level storage shed; first aid room; public toilets; accessible public toilet with baby change facilities; office; utility/cleaner's room; and undercover spectator viewing area.
Having gained $2.97 million in funding, the report showed $201,701 had been used for early site works such as realignment of drainage and sewer pipes and $743,475 was earmarked for stage three works. These works will include pitch lighting upgrades, car park design and car park construction.
The federal government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Funding program provided $1.97 million funding, whilst the state government's Sport and Recreation Victoria's Local Sports Infrastructure Fund allocated $1 million under its female friendly facilities stream.
It follows $2.14 million stage one works incorporating the new synthetic pitch and access ramp funded by council and completed in mid-2021.
Council officers recommended awarding the contract to James G Morrison Pty Ltd as the tender met the full adopted scope of works within the available budget, "providing the best value for money".
"James G Morrison Pty Ltd scored highly overall in the panel evaluations, is a known contractor who has completed previous work(s) of this scope for council and meets the capacity and capability requirements for the contract," it said.
Cr Gauci said he was happy to see the tender under budget and awarded to a Warragul-based builder.
"This facility now will match what the ground is," Cr Gauci said. "It's going to be a great outcome."
As a "really neat tie in", he said Morrisons builders employed the founder of the Warragul United Soccer Club as well as a life member.
"I'm really pleased that council has taken on the aspect of let's go in, get a job done and finish the job," Cr Gauci said. "This is a completion. That's it, there's nothing else to do".
"I hope, councillors, that we take that thought process on to the next lot of fields that we do."
Cr Jazmin Tauru said "this project feels like a natural next step" following the pitch upgrade.
"Seeing the current state of the pavilion at the moment, it's very much needed and very much deserved for the club," Cr Tauru said.
"This is another amazing council project that shows we are doing our part to ensure environments are being built to enable our local community to be active," she added. "And to also promote that social inclusion that comes from being part of a sporting club."
Cr Darren Wallace said the club had strongly advocated for its facility "and they haven't let us forget them".
"This is another case of plan, design, deliver," he said.
Cr Wallace said football in Gippsland some 20 years ago was centred around Falcons in Morwell, but "I truly believe once Baxter Park is completed...football is centred in Warragul".