Wallan’s RB Robson stadium is officially open with $950,000 of upgrades including floor painting, new backboards and lighting.
All three courts have a better quality and safer playing surface, with new lines for basketball, netball, badminton and volleyball.
Adjustable backboards also provide extra flexibility so more players of different ages and abilities can play basketball.
The State Government contributed $480,000 in funding alongside $460,000 from Mitchell Shire Council, $5000 from RB Robson Committee of Management and $5000 from Wallan Panthers Basketball Association.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence officially opened the upgrades on Thursday and said prior to the upgrades the stadium was ‘showing its age’ with courts needing resurfacing, adjustable basketball rings needed, and basic changeroom and toilet facilities.
“With sports like basketball, netball and gymnastics booming in Wallan, the community deserves facilities they can be proud of,” she said.
“You all must be so happy with what an improvement there is here. I hope that further increases the pride you have in this really special stadium, which is why I’m so pleased we were able to again partner with Mitchell Shire on the completion of this project.
“Personally, I think this is outstanding value for less than $1 million investment and to have everyone come together as partners in this is a really terrific outcome … I’d really like to continue partnering on more projects so that we can increase participation even more in community sport here locally.”
Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Louise Bannister said she used the facility herself – playing netball and taking her son to weekly gymnastics classes, highlighting the stadiums multi-generational multipurpose use.
“I think we can say that with confidence today after these upgrades that RB Robson stadium is the premier indoor sporting facility in our community,” she said.
“It’s been hard for many with athletic pursuits and today we witnessed the evolution to meet the dynamic needs of our ever-growing community.
“None of this would’ve been possible without the generous support that we have received.
“Thank you to the RB Robson stadium Committee of Management for contributing – it’s absolutely fantastic – as well as the Wallan basketball club. Thank you very much for investing in quality sporting facilities here. This is an investment in happiness and health of our residents.
“Projects like this one not only elevate our sporting infrastructure, but also contribute significantly to the overall wellbeing of our community.
“Let’s embrace opportunities that this upgraded stadium presents for our community and it may well be a place where friendships are forged, achievements are celebrated and memories created.”
RB Robson Committee of Management president Jodie Schultz said it was a community effort to complete the upgrades.
“Now we’re offering different sports like walking basketball and different opportunities that we never were able to offer at Robson stadium before with the new facilities,” she said.
“We can’t thank you enough Ros and the Mitchell Shire. The ownership that the athletes in all areas from gymnastics through to basketball to netball – any of our user groups that come in – they really take ownership now. They’re very proud.
“Thank you to our community for embracing it. Thank you to our user groups who endured the courts being unavailable, no access to toilets, no power, or no water.
“We really, really rode through it together so without you guys working with us we wouldn’t have been able to get where we are today. So onwards and upwards.”
