PLANS to revamp the Berri Oval grandstand change rooms will have to wait to go out for tender, after a local councillor objected to the design of the proposed umpire’s room.
At May’s ordinary meeting, Berri Barmera Council elected members voted to consult with local football umpires before taking the project to tender, after councillor Mike Fuller raised concerns that the new facilities would lead to safety issues for umpires.
Cr Fuller said the proposed location of the umpire’s room at the back of an existing grandstand would leave umpires susceptible to abuse from fans after games.
Cr Fuller also said it was unclear how mixed-gender umpiring crews would use the room, with no separate area for male and female umpires.
In a report to council, community services manager Andrew Haigh said original concept designs for the upgrade had to change due to roof heights being too low, meaning player and umpire’s change rooms and toilet facilities will be held in different oval buildings.
“The original intent of the project was to upgrade the very poor condition of the change rooms housed under the grandstand, and this proposed split design layout still achieves both the needs of the club’s and the requirements of the major funding body,” he said.
The project will also provide improved change room facilities for females and accessible toilets.
Council staff will now work with local umpires to modify the design before the project goes to tender.
The $300,000 project is being jointly-funded by the council, State Government, Berri football and cricket clubs, and the Berri War Memorial Community Centre.
Irrigation upgrades are also planned for both the Berri and Barmera ovals through the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Programme extension funding.
Berri Barmera CEO Karyn Burton said the council was waiting on approval from the government to begin the $110,000 upgrades, but hoped to have them completed before the resumption of local football and cricket seasons.