A high quality and more consistent playing surface will be the outcome of the Val Bertrand Stadium flooring upgrade, with work on the project now under way.
The existing surface had been in place for 35 years and had reached the end of its useable life.
The project, which has a $731,500 budget, is expected to be finished by the end of February 2025.
Val Bertrand Stadium regularly hosts netball, volleyball, bowls, basketball and pickleball, and is part of the Warrnambool ARC Stadium complex.
Warrnambool Mayor Cr Ben Blain said that the upgrade would create a better playing surface while making ongoing maintenance easier.
“The Val Bertrand Stadium is a very much loved and well-used facility in Warrnambool, and the time has come to rebuild the floor to allow the courts to be enjoyed for many years to come,” he said.
“The five court facility attracts over 141,000 visits per year.
“The floor itself pre-dates the other basketball courts of the Warrnambool Stadium by over a decade. So while we’ve gotten good usage out of it, things have moved on and repair and maintenance options of the floor became limited.
“The new flooring will include underfloor rubber pads, which in combination with the new timber floor, will create a sprung playing surface which meets contemporary expectations for indoor stadium playing standards.”
Cr Blain said that the timing of the works was a key consideration.
“It was really important to be able to schedule this project over summer when most of the sporting associations have their break and usage is at its lowest,” he said.
“We have the Seaside Volleyball tournament on over the 2025 Labour Day long weekend, so that will be the first big event for the new courts, and we will also host the Australian Indoor Bias Bowls ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Championships in August.”
The project also includes the installation of new vinyl flooring in the grandstand, viewing areas, as well as the foyers of both the Val Bertrand Stadium and the Warrnambool ARC Stadium.
