MORNINGTON MP Chris Crewther has announced an elected Liberal government will provide $8m towards the rebuild and upgrade of Narambi Reserve in Mornington Park, delivering the next stages of the long-awaited Narambi Reserve Master Plan.
Crewther said he had been fighting alongside local sporting clubs, schools, families and the community to “secure the investment needed to complete the major upgrade of this important sporting, schooling and community precinct”.
“Narambi Reserve is at the heart of Mornington Park’s sporting and schooling community. It is where thousands of local children, families, volunteers and sporting participants come together every year,” said Crewther.
“I have been fighting for better facilities at Narambi Reserve and working closely with the Mornington Junior Football Club, local cricket clubs, Mornington Park Primary School, Mornington Special Developmental School, and the local community to make sure this project remains on the agenda.”
In May this year, president of the Mornington Junior Football Club, Sam Bramston, expressed his disappointment at being “forgotten”, as the fast-growing club struggled with ancient or non-existent infrastructure at its two home ground ovals (“MP and junior club call for urgent action on facilities”, The News, 19/5/26).
The fast-growing club that had only 120 players seven years ago, now has 381 juniors, including 120 girls playing from under 12’s to under 18’s.
At the time Bramston told Crewther the girls’ oval had no running water, and was serviced by just two portaloos that they had to use in the dark.
The push continued when a group of Mornington Junior Football Club players went to parliament to spread the word about their inadequate facilities (“Pups take protest to parliament over porta-loo problem”, The News, 9/6/26).
The players met MPs Paul Mercurio, Anthony Marsh and Chris Crewther before Crewther entered the chamber, reading a speech calling for action on the facilities, as the player watched on from the public gallery.
The $8m commitment made on Wednesday 16 October will support the completion of stages 2–4 of the Narambi Reserve Master Plan, including:
- A new modern pavilion to support players, volunteers, families, students at Mornington Park Primary School and Mornington Special Developmental School, and the wider community
- Improved landscaping and community open space areas
- New cricket nets
- Upgraded pathways and improved accessibility
- Main oval car parking improvements
- Playground upgrades
- A new BBQ shelter and community gathering spaces
Crewther said the investment would support growing participation in junior and female sport while providing safer, more accessible and modern facilities for the whole community. It will also mean great ovals and facilities for both Mornington Park Primary School and Mornington Special Developmental School, which both don’t have an oval and associated facilities of their own.
“Local sporting clubs and schools are places where children learn, families connect and people give back to their community,” said Crewther.
“Narambi Reserve needs facilities that match the growth of our community and the increasing number of young people participating in sport, and local school students, teachers and staff can use.
“This $8 million commitment under a Liberal government will give us the opportunity to work with council, schools and local clubs to deliver this project.
“I have been fighting for this project because Mornington Park families, schools and sporting clubs deserve better. Under a Jess Wilson Liberal government, we will get on with the job of rebuilding Narambi Reserve.”
