Horsham company Locks Constructions has been awarded the contract to build Horsham City Oval’s new community netball pavilion.

Horsham Rural City Council’s tender process was not without its challenges, with rising construction industry costs necessitating three separate calls for tenders.

The completion of the project is scheduled for midway through the 2025 Wimmera Football and Netball League season.

The multi-use pavilion and landscaping will include two main change rooms with amenities; an accessible change room; three umpire change areas; a first aid/medical room; a social space, kiosk, and pantry; an office for netball administration; equipment and storage space; three public spectator amenities, including an accessible toilet, all with external access; a canopy for external shelter; mounded viewing areas; landscaped areas and connecting pathways.

Locks Constructions owner Craig O’Connor said he was ‘ecstatic’ about being awarded the tender.

“Being a life member of the footy club and being associated with the club for over 40 years, it’s great to be doing this,” he said.

“We’re just waiting on a couple of subbies to get back to me around the timelines, so we haven’t got a timeline locked in yet for a finish date.”

Horsham Football Netball Club president Ash Hopper said the new pavilion would be the ‘finishing touch’ to the netball court area at the Demons’ home ground.

“It’s the next step towards getting our completed set up, which is great,” he said.

“We’ve battled away. It’s been good to get the courts, obviously, but without having this to coincide with, it’s still got its challenges.”

Council chief executive Sunil Bhalla said the council was pleased to confirm the pavilion would stay true to its original concept, despite the challenges it faced.

“The new pavilion promises to be a modern addition to the city oval, featuring a curved facade that aligns with the two newly constructed netball courts,” he said.

Mr Bhalla said soaring construction industry costs meant council had to advertise the tender multiple times.

“The building’s design was revisited and reworked to reduce cost while maintaining functionality,” he said.

“Most amendments related to structural steel elements, with some minor floor plan simplification.

“Our persistence has paid off and we are pleased to have reached this milestone on behalf of the Horsham community and key user groups, including Horsham Demons Football Netball Club and Horsham City Netball Association.”

The project, including the completed courts and lighting, is funded by the State Government and the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund.

Other city oval projects include the externally-funded multipurpose events stage and twin netball courts.

Council is still seeking state and federal grants to build a new general community pavilion to replace the current two-storey building.

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