Sports facilities upgrade from funding windfall

More than $370,000 state government funding has been allocated to three sporting projects in Baw Baw Shire.

The projects include upgrades to cricket facilities in Drouin, creation of female friendly change rooms at the Drouin Soccer Club, and development of a 10 year shire-wide Recreation Strategy.

Council received the $372,825 through the state government’s 2017/18 Community Sports Infrastructure Fund in the Cricket Facilities, Female Friendly Facilities and Planning categories.

Mayor Joe Gauci welcomed the state government’s support for the projects and dedication to improving sport and recreation for the Baw Baw community.

“As a council we aim to provide facilities that support a healthy, active and inclusive community.

“The first project will expand the current three cricket net facility at Bellbird Park to include additional practice nets, making five in total. “We will also be fully enclosing four of the expanded nets, and installing retractable netting at Bellbird Park to allow for flexibility in the synthetic enclosure.

“Additional to this project council will fully fund a refurbishment of the net area at the Drouin Recreation Reserve.

The Bellbird Park project will cost $117,825, with the state government contributing $78,550 and $39,275 from council.

The female friendly change room upgrades will see the creation of two additional change rooms with female friendly amenities, converting the current male dominant change rooms to allow for female friendly amenities, adding a disabled toilet and a dedicated first aid room, improving outdoor accessibility options and upgrading the umpire changing room facilities.

This project will include $100,000 state government funding, $50,000 from council and $45,000 from the Drouin Soccer Club.

Cr Gauci said the recreation strategy would assist council to better understand the current and likely future recreational needs of the community and to develop a framework for the effective provision, development and management of recreation facilities and services within the shire.

Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing, said sports clubs using Bellbird Park and the council had lobbied for the upgrade.

“Women and girls are joining grassroots sport in record numbers, but too often their facilities are rundown or non-existent,” said Ms Shing.

“We’re changing that, because everyone deserves equal facilities.”

The $60,000 strategy will be jointly funded by council and the state government.

Cr Gauci said all three projects would begin next financial year.