MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire council have given the green light to a ramped-up redevelopment of the Emil Madsen Reserve Western Pavilion, against the recommendation of council officers.
The examination of options for the redevelopment was touted at the 22 July 2025 council meeting, in response to a report considering expenditure options for remaining underspend from Commonwealth Government grant funds at Emil Madsen Reserve. At last week’s meeting (Tuesday 17 February), officers came back with three recommendations to consider.
Option one was the original design, in accordance with council’s endorsed facility standards. Option two included amending the concept design to expand the netball change rooms and amenities to four AFL sized change rooms, and expand and redesign the social space, kitchen and servery. Option three included amending the design four AFL sized change rooms and two netball sized changerooms, and further expanding and redesigning the social space, kitchen and servery.
The officer’s report stated that option two and three “provide a much larger social space, kitchen, additional/larger change rooms and a meeting room that are beyond what council’s facility development standards recommend. It is not clear what these additional spaces will be used for”.
It is understood that option three, pushed for by Cr Stephen Batty whose ward covers Emil Madsen Reserve, would require a significant amount of extra funding, and the motion placed before councillors stipulated that money would not be provided by council. The News understands the intention is to privately fundraise the extra funds.
“I strongly support this amended recommendation,” said Batty.
“I sincerely acknowledge the significant work undertaken by council officers in developing the recommendation for option one. And that option provides a consistent approach to sporting facilities across the shire, maintains standards in line with state sporting guidelines, and supports equitable distribution of facilities.
“However, while consistency is important, equity does not mean uniformity. Facilities must respond to scale, demand, and context. The circumstances at the 16-hectare Emil Madsen Reserve are unique.
“For decades, volunteers have fundraised and built facilities by continuously reinvesting to support participation. And their dedication has helped create one of the largest sporting communities in the state. At the end of last year there were approximately 2400 registered players. Sixty-seven per cent male and 33 per cent female.
“This proposal isn’t merely about replacing a 50- or 60-year-old building that is outdated and non-compliant, and no longer fit for purpose. It is about delivering a pavilion that meets the needs of all tenant clubs, supports future growth, and responds to the unprecedented rise in junior and female participation.”
Cr David Gill was not convinced that the proposal represented equity across the peninsula.
“This is going to be a fantastic addition to the facilities for the sporting clubs in Mt Eliza,” said Gill.
“But I’ve got 20 villages and not one soccer pitch. What we’ve got here is the best facilities in the shire getting better all the time. So, what we should be doing is looking at whether it has had its fair share. And, of course, the answer is yes.”
Cr Kate Roper raised concern about the intention to privately raise the extra funds required.
“I’m really torn about this one. We’ve been told the club will fundraise the difference. I’m not allowed to say the amount, but it is a significant amount.
“There is no guarantee. We still don’t have permission from the federal government that we can allocate the leftover money from the other pavilion to this pavilion.”
Cr Patrick Binyon agreed with Roper stating “I think we need to be prudent. I think that the risk is too great”.
“I’m not here to talk about pitting regions off against each other. But there are clubs and sporting groups that really lack facilities. We’ve got sporting groups using transportables and portaloos,” said Binyon.
“It has got to be equitable. At this stage, I haven’t been convinced to go with option three.”
The motion was put to councillors and passed six votes to five, with Crs Marsh, Pingiaro, Allen, Williams, Ranken and Batty in favour, and Crs Roper, Gill, Patton, Stephens, and Binyon against.
First published in the Mornington News – 24 February 2026
