Two Mitchell Shire sporting reserves will share in more than $950,000 of State Government funding to upgrade change rooms, oval lighting and build new multi-use courts.
Three projects across Wallan’s Greenhill Reserve and Wandong’s LB Davern Reserve will be co-funded by the State Government, $958,800, and Mitchell Shire Council, $820,000, totalling a $1.78 million investment.
Greenhill Reserve’s main oval will receive an upgrade to two existing change rooms to make the facility more female-friendly and inclusive and accessible for all users, funded by a $500,000 State Government grant and a $420,000 council contribution.
The refurbished female-friendly pavilion will include two change rooms, public accessible toilets and umpire rooms. The existing communal showers and urinals will be removed as part of the upgrade.
The works will generate greater scheduling opportunities for the user groups across the two sports grounds and more equitable use of the main oval for women’s sports.
The oval will also receive a $313,000 lighting upgrade, with new light towers with LED lights meeting AFL training and competition standards.
The completion of both works at Greenhill Recreation Reserve will provide more options for clubs that use the oval, as well as providing an accessible and inclusive space for the introduction of the Northern Football Netball League’s planned Friday night competition for girls and women.
LB Davern Reserve will receive upgrades to its tennis and netball courts valued at $545,000, with council providing $295,000 and the State Government contributing $250,000.
Two shared-use courts that currently have major issues with cracking will be reconstructed.
The new courts will provide a better surface for players will extend the life of the courts.
The works are in addition to previously completed works that included the rebuild of adjoining courts and the installation of lighting.
The completion of this project will result in Wandong having six courts with lights, including four shared-use acrylic tennis/netball courts and two artificial grass tennis courts.
Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green and Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes announced the projects on Monday.
Ms Symes said the boost was a ‘big win’ for community sport.
“The funding for Greenhill Reserve and the LB Davern Reserve will go a long way to support the growing number of people in Mitchell Shire keen to get involved in local sport and recreation,” she said.
Ms Green said sports clubs were the heart of Mitchell Shire towns.
“Ensuring that we have upgraded and compliant sport and recreation facilities is critical to our economic and social recovery, as well as our community’s physical and mental wellbeing,” she said.
Mitchell Shire Mayor David Lowe said while there was no sport at the moment, the projects would benefit the community greatly when they started again.
“These facilities will help meet demand and attract new members to our sporting organisations. It’s our goal to make Mitchell a vibrant and liveable community and with plenty of spaces to stay active and keep connected,” he said.
“Investing in sport and recreation spaces is crucial. They support physical activity, improving the overall mental and physical health of our community. This will be more important than ever once stay-at-home orders are finished”.