Pyalong Netball Club and Pyalong Tennis Club members can take their game to the next level with the installation of two new courts and lighting at Pyalong Recreation Reserve.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence joined Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Fiona Stevens on Thursday last week to officially launch the new $750,000 court and lighting upgrade project.
The upgrades have provided two shared-use multi-lined netball/tennis courts lit to competition standards, a hard-court warmup area, rebound wall for practice, netball player and official shelters, spectator seating, storage sheds, and active recreation area that includes a half-court basketball/netball court.
The courts are an important precinct for Pyalong locals and district communities, including Toobora, Glenaroua and Moranding, with the nearest alternative courts 50 kilometers away.
“It is particularly important and really special to have this lighting here because not only do we have more people able to participate on the courts, but people are able to participate longer,” Ms Spence said.
“With the lights … we can get more use, more participation and it’s a real value. I want to say a huge congratulations to everyone who has been involved in advocating for these works for quite a while.”
Pyalong Netball Club also received new uniforms on Wednesday, and president Narelle Robertson said it was a fantastic way to commemorate the 20th year of the club.
“Our little club started with humble beginnings in a makeshift court painted over a tennis court. Essentially, we had four tennis courts and netball was never played here so our community and our club have grown and thrived,” she said.
“Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers and families we’re now comping with five teams and a NetSetGo this year.
“Hopefully we’ll get tennis up and running here and keeping growing the club.”
The upgrades were made possible by a $500,000 grant from the Female Friendly Facilities Stream of the State Government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund and $250,000 from Mitchell Shire Council.
“Since 2014 the State Government has invested over $1.6 billion in community sport infrastructure. We do that because we’re really interested in making sure that the health and wellbeing of Victorians is looked after through community sport. We understand the benefits of that. We do that because of the interests of jobs and the economy through community sport infrastructure,” Ms Spence said.
“But we also do that because we’re fair dinkum about making sure that all Victorians, regardless of where they live across the state, have got access to quality infrastructure that’s appropriate for them to participate in community sport regardless of where they live and regardless of what sports they want to participate in.”
Cr Stevens said council want to create opportunities for the community to engage in local sport.
“We know female participation in community sports is growing and we’re working closely with the clubs and the committee of managements right throughout the shire to encourage participation,” she said.
“The reserve and its facilities are a vital part of a small town like Pyalong. It’s a sense of community belonging, and it gives that opportunity for outdoor recreation and energy burning.
“We don’t have the bowling alleys, we don’t have the movie theatres, we don’t have all of that but we have our sport and we love our sport. It’s so important to us. That’s why we’re very grateful for the Victorian Government for partnering with council to deliver these incredible upgrades.”
For more information about infrastructure grant opportunities visit sport.vic.gov.au.
