MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 26: A general view during the AFL 2017 JLT Community Series match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Hawthorn Hawks at Arden Street Oval on February 26, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
North Melbourne has received the approval for a $10 million redevelopment of Arden St, which will transform the headquarters into a ready made home ground for the club's entry into AFLW in 2019.
After submitting an application last year, North Melbourne recently received a construction permit.
North CEO Carl Dilena told AFL.com.au the club was delighted its blueprint had been given approval.
"We're just going through some of the detailed design stuff and then we'll tender and hopefully start construction in the next few months. We're aiming for a completion date of early next year," Dilena said.
"Our VFL side will get improved lighting for training here at Arden St during the course of the year and then the construction will really be driven by the women's football – both AFLW and VFLW – to have the facilities and change rooms ready to go for AFLW 2019."
The Kangaroos' redevelopment will include:
- Two team change rooms
- Umpires change rooms
- Expanded warm-up areas
- Coach's boxes
- A media box
- Medical facilities
- Office space for the club's new AFLW and VFL staff.
Most of the new extensions will be a two-storied extension that will be built adjacent to North Melbourne's administration and training center.
A scoreboard and interchange bench will also be installed, along with improved lighting to enable training at night.
This redevelopment, North Melbourne hopes will just be the start of a larger scale revamp.
North Melbourne's long term vision is to upgrade Arden Street to the biggest training facility in inner city Melbourne.