FEDERAL Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was in Wallan on Thursday to announce an $8 million kickstart for a planned Greenhill Recreation Precinct.
The recreation precinct is planned to provide sporting facilities for a rapidly growing Wallan population, including a possible future aquatic complex and various sports courts.
The government’s $8 million election pledge will allow for servicing works at the site of the planned reserve, which is owned by Mitchell Shire Council.
It will also help build a new dedicated gymnastics facility, freeing up space at Wallan’s RB Robson Stadium. The stadium is currently shared by Wallan Basketball and Birralle Gymnastics.
Mr Frydenberg visited RB Robson Stadium and said while it had served the Wallan community for 40 years, it was clear the town needed to expand its sporting infrastructure.
“It will be a very exciting new sporting precinct for the local area,” he said.
“Engagement with sport is critical not just for people’s physical wellbeing but their mental wellbeing.
“This is one of the fastest-growing parts of Victoria in terms of population growth. That is really stretching some of these community facilities.”
Mitchell Shire Council Deputy Mayor Fiona Stevens said council was grateful for the announcement after continuously advocating for the project.
“[The land at] 300 Northern Highway is the future of this area. The council had a vision a number of years ago and purchased this land … and the intention has always been to activate it as a major sporting precinct,” she said.
“The population already is underserviced here and the growth that is coming is phenomenal. We need these sorts of facilities to … keep our communities engaged and keep them healthy.”
See next week’s edition of the Review for more on Mr Frydenberg’s announcement.
