Local athletes are celebrating the latest funding announcement for a state-of-the-art sports facility, set to transform the region by enhancing sporting opportunities, boosting female participation, and backing local clubs and events.
Managed by the City of Whittlesea, Mernda’s future Regional Sports Precinct is now backed by an additional $10 million investment, courtesy of the Federal Government’s Thriving Suburbs Program.
The announcement comes shortly after the suburb was named as a successful recipient of the Play Our Way Program, in which council was granted $1.5 million to fund the construction of netball facilities at the precinct.
Eight outdoor netball courts, associated lighting, spectator seating, fencing, and coaches’ shelters will come to fruition as a result, while the latest grant will deliver the indoor component of the precinct, which includes four multi-purpose netball and basketball courts, changerooms, accessible toilets, foyer, reception area, kiosk office space, and storage areas.
Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell congratulated council on its successful applications during a visit to the site on December 18, where construction of the precinct had already begun.
“We’re on site [where there are] diggers working, people getting things done, but this is the second half of that—to make sure that it gets done and we get the best outcome,” he said.
“We have had a deficit of sporting facilities in the north for a long time, we’ve had a low participation rate from girls in sport, and we’ve got to address that, and that’s what we’re doing through these funds.
“Working closely with the council, we’ve been able to put this together and end that deficit that we’ve had for such a long time, so it’s a big positive. It means that we’ll get things done.”
Following a VicHealth report released in April that revealed the municipality ranked 73rd out of 79 for organised sports participation among women and girls, Northern Pride Netball Association President Michelle Kneale expressed hope that the investment would boost female participation.
“Moving into a sports precinct is going to open up so many more opportunities for our young players,” she said.
“I [would] really like to thank everyone that’s made this possible.
“Rob Mitchell has been a huge advocate for us, along with [Member for Yan Yean] Lauren Kathage, and Netball Victoria.
“All those at the City of Whittlesea—it’s great to have our new councillors on board now really backing this project as well, so all the support from everyone that put their hard thoughts, work, and money into this project to facilitate is phenomenal.”
City of Whittlesea Mayor Councillor Aidan McLindon expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for their support in delivering the critical piece of infrastructure.
“The Regional Sports Precinct is a vital piece of social infrastructure that will provide our growing communities with the sporting facilities they so desperately need,” he said.
“Council cannot deliver a project of this size and scale on its own, so we are grateful for the Federal Government’s support through these $10 million and $1.5 million grants.
“We will continue to advocate strongly for funding from all levels of government to help deliver the Regional Sports Precinct and other priority projects.”
