CHANGES to the Elsie Austin oval changerooms have been confirmed and Mt Helena junior football club president Narelle Thredgold said it’s been a long-awaited community boost.

“We’ve been pushing for these changes for as long as I’ve been here, so it’s at least been nine years,” she said.

“The upgrades mean the children participating have access with their teammates and their peers and they can all be in there together.

“For the club as a whole, it means we now have fit for purpose changerooms and a much better kiosk that’s much more user friendly.

“The chamber storage will make life much easier on training and game days.

“Access to the changerooms for the children in the Starkick program was very difficult and for the players in wheelchairs, getting in and negotiating the design of the changerooms was challenging.

“From a junior player point of view there was no privacy so they couldn’t change properly so we didn’t use them as a junior club.

“But now, it’s so good that we’ll be able to tell them to go and get changed in the changerooms.”

Shire of Mundaring gave the green light to the long-awaited upgrade of the Elsie Austin changerooms during its September 2 council meeting.

The Shire of Mundaring president Paige McNeil said construction is scheduled to begin late September.

“The new changerooms will be modern and welcoming and will support participation across our community including our Starkick all-abilities players, women and girls, and our senior clubs who use the oval each week,” she said.

“The new changerooms will be modern and welcoming and will support participation across our community including our Starkick all-abilities players, women and girls, and our senior clubs who use the oval each week.”

The $1.5 million project aims to deliver accessible, inclusive changerooms, upgraded amenities and a new spectator shelter.

It has been designed to support women and girls, juniors and players living with disability as demand grows for community sport provisions.

The layout is informed by Mundaring clubs and volunteers input, including the Starkick all-abilities program, junior teams and senior football sides who have been calling for better storage and fit-for-purpose spaces.

An initial $75,000 commitment in 2021 kicked off planning but the upgrade has grown with strong community backing and become one of the most significant sport investments at Mount Helena in recent years.

Funding includes $525,000 from the state government and $410,000 from the Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund, with the balance from Mundaring shire reserves.

Ms Thredgold said community sports programs were an imporant unifier of communities.

“A highlight is seeing the children play during halftime at Optus stadium,” she said.

“Running with their peers and being one of the 88 kids in the middle of Optus stadium with about 46,000 people watching from the audience is an amazing opportunity.

“So proud to be part of that and there’s a general excitement in the air as players look forward to coming back to changerooms that will provide a bigger and better facility for the next season,”

The Elsie Austin changerooms upgrade is a priority in the Council Plan 2024-2034, which aims to grow participation in sport and provide welcoming, well-maintained places for the community.

Designs are also underway for changeroom upgrades at Boya Oval and Burkinshaw Oval in Glen Forrest.