Skinner Reserve Redevelopment Kicks On

Published on 23 April 2021

The Western Bulldogs have partnered with Maribyrnong City Council on a shared $3 million project to redevelop Skinner Reserve in Braybrook.

Skinner Reserve, an iconic western suburbs ground in close proximity to VU Whitten Oval, will become a secondary training base for the Bulldogs’ elite teams and a key facility to run its community programs.

The Club is in the final stages of planning the next stage of its Whitten Oval precinct redevelopment, which will include realigning and resurfacing its oval, creating the need for a high-quality alternative training venue into the future.

The upgraded Skinner Reserve will complement the existing Braybrook Community Hub which is thriving at the venue, a jointly-managed, free after-school program for young people aged between 12-15, as well as housing the Club’s Sons of the West and Daughters of the West health programs for Maribyrnong.

The revamped facility will also provide local sporting clubs with much-improved amenities and a quality space for the whole community to enjoy.

The upgrades of Skinner Reserve will include:

• The reconstruction of the existing field to a high quality durable surface, sand-based oval, comparable to the size and scale of Marvel Stadium and MCG playing fields.
• New fence-line and interchange benches.
• The construction of a two-lane running track.
• The construction of 200 LUX LED Lighting, with adequate uniformity allowing local night competition.
• AFL standard goal posts and protective goal netting.
• Improved spectator amenities and surrounds.

“We are excited to be working closely with Council on the upgrades to Skinner Reserve, which is an important project for us on many levels,” said Bulldogs’ CEO Ameet Bains.

“We are about to embark on a major redevelopment of our own facilities at VU Whitten Oval, and for a period of time we will be unable to use our oval while significant works are completed.

“To have access to a high-quality training oval, which is close to our home base and has historical significance to our people and fans, is a fantastic outcome.

“An upgraded Skinner Reserve will also be a winner for the community.  It will allow us to have a much greater presence with our suite of impactful community programs, helping us to connect even further with the people of the west.

“We thank Maribyrnong City Council for their cooperation during this process.”

Maribyrnong City Council completed an extensive community engagement process on the proposed upgrades, which was undertaken over two phases from December 2020 to March 2021, with residents showing strong support and welcoming the improvements to the facilities.

“We are very proud to be partnering with the Western Bulldogs Football Club to deliver this exciting project, which will transform Skinner Reserve into a high quality sporting and community facility,” said Maribyrnong City Council Mayor, Cr Michael Clarke.

“Enhancing the facilities at Skinner Reserve is a welcomed boost for our community, improving the recreational opportunities for residents and expanding local sporting opportunities and competitions, putting the west, and Braybrook, on the sporting map.

“It is important to Council that we ensure our community has access to safe, functional and sustainable infrastructure that meets their needs and will continue to meet the needs of generations to come.”