Keystone Hall, located at Town Park in Croydon, is a multi-purpose community facility, which houses a variety of community groups, including athletics and Croydon U3A. The redevelopment of Keystone Hall received joint Federal and Council funding, with the two levels of government committing $150,000 each, in addition to a $6000 from the Town Park Committee of Management.

This afternoon I officially opened the improvements to Keystone Hall, which includes disability compliant toilets, a new courtyard and 3000 litre water tanks.

A copy of the speech is provided within this post:

Good afternoon and welcome to the opening of the Keystone Hall Athletics Building.

In the spirit of Reconciliation, we acknowledge that we are meeting on land for which the Wurundjeri people have been custodians for many centuries, and on land which the Indigenous Australians have performed age old ceremonies.

We, Maroondah City Council, accept, respect and have shared with the Wurundjeri people in their customs of welcome.

The Wurundjeri people support the coming together of all people, respecting their individuality to focus on a unified and cohesive nation.

On behalf of the Maroondah community I would like to thank Mr Mike Symon, Federal Member for Deakin, for his attendance here today. I would also like to welcome, Mr David Hodgett MLA and my fellow Councillors from the City of Maroondah; Cr Ann Fraser, Cr Rob Steane, Cr Natalie Thomas and Cr Les Willmott.

I am pleased to see so many participants and their families here today together with committee members from the Croydon Little Athletics Centre, Victorian Masters, Croydon U3A and Town Park Committee of Management.

It is also pleasing to welcome, Mr Fraser Kirchner the builder, Mr Leigh Mattingley, the architect and many of the Council staff involved in the project.

This facility is home to Croydon Little Athletics, catering for 300 boys and girls of all abilities and backgrounds between the ages of 6 and 16 years, teaching the skills of athletics. The facility is also home to the Croydon Veterans Athletics Club.

I would like to thank the Croydon Little Athletics Centre for initiating the application for the upgrade to the facility and working with Council officers who also identified an opportunity to compliment the upgrade of the rooms with an upgrade to the public toilets which did not meet current standards.

This new facility will offer opportunities for participants and spectators of all abilities to become further involved in organised sports. It will also provide the local community with safer amenities, with entrances to the updated toilets to be viewed from the track, thus increasing visibility. The new accessible toilet will also increase accessibility, particularly for people with disabilities, and will provide easy access to the track.

The main improvements that have been made are:

• Additional office for the Athletics Club to make administering the athletics competitions and training more efficient,
• Expansion of the kitchen to include a kiosk, to enable direct service to patrons, which in turn will generate funds to go back into the Club to help purchase new equipment and cover expenses,
• Additional and expanded storage,
• Water tanks with the capacity to hold 9,000 litres.

On behalf of Council and the facility users, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Federal Government for its contribution of $150,000. Maroondah City Council also contributed $150,000 towards the project, demonstrating our commitment to the provision of high quality facilities to enhance local sport.

I would also like to acknowledge the $6,000 contributed to the project by the Town Park Committee of Management.

On behalf of Council I would also like to acknowledge the dedication of the Committees and Clubs in working with Council to see the project to its conclusion.

Congratulations to you all for your commitment and dedication to this project.

“May your steps be long and your times be short”.