DEPUTY Prime Minister Richard Marles dropped into Mernda for a visit of the development of the Mernda Sports Precinct on Friday. Mr Marles visited the development, which has included $11.5 million of investment from the Federal Government, as construction continues. After stage one is completed, a four-court indoor stadium will be done, as well as eight outdoor courts.
The indoor stadium will also include retractable seating, which will feature 1000 seats, changerooms, accessible facilities, reception, kiosk and multi-purpose spaces. “The stadium and outdoor courts will give local families and sporting clubs places to play, get active and come together,” Mr Mitchell said.
“Mernda and surrounding communities have long needed this infrastructure and it has taken a Federal Labor government to invest in what our growing community needs.
“This means more opportunities for kids, women and people of all abilities to get involved in sport close to home.” City Of Whittlesea Mayor, Cr Lawrie Cox joined the tour in Mernda and expressed thanks to the Federal Government for the investment.
“It was great to meet the Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Richard Marles and the Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell MP on site today to showcase this project. The stadium and sports courts at Mernda are critical infrastructure for our growing community,” he said.
“A huge number of our community are having to leave our municipality to play sport. Once complete, the complex’s four indoor multipurpose courts and eight outdoor netball courts will support more than 1000 people to play netball locally which will bring important wellbeing and health benefits.
“This project is Council’s single biggest infrastructure investment and not something that we can deliver without financial support from other levels of Government. We welcome the Federal Government’s support of $11.5 million towards the construction of the indoor stadium and outdoor courts.”