The Allan Labor Government is building more swimming pools, sporting grounds and courts and pavilions across regional Victoria with grants from the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.
Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant today announced the Bellarine will share in more than $20 million to make local facilities even better.
The Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund encourages councils, clubs and communities to work together to design the facilities their town wants, with a focus on getting more people involved regardless of their age, gender or ability.
The Wallington Reserve has been successful in receiving $1 million from Round 1 of the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund to support the $4.25 million redevelopment of the all-abilities pavilion at Wallington Reserve. The City of Greater Geelong have committed $3.25 million from their 2024-25 budget to contribute to the project.
The proposed development includes extending the pavilion to accommodate two compliant baseball/cricket change rooms, a shared kitchen/canteen, social space with internal toilets and additional storage. The Wallington Cricket Club and Bellarine Bears Baseball Club both use the Wallington Reserve for their all-abilities program. The redevelopment of the sports pavilion at Wallington Reserve will address accessibility issues and will include installation of all gender accessible and ambulant toilets, rectifying narrow doorways and walkways, eliminating steps, and updating door handles to ensure accessibility.
An additional $50,000 from the Victorian Government has also been granted to support the initiatives of the Wallington Cricket Club and the Bellarine Bears Baseball Club all-abilities program to help boost wider community participation at the upgraded facilities.
The Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund builds on more than $23 million announced in the 2024-25 Victorian Budget to provide world class community sports infrastructure and initiatives that boost participation and inclusion in local sport.
From playground redevelopments to new sporting hubs, investments like these provide high-quality and accessible places for Victorians to reap the benefits of sport and active recreation. These projects are all about creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and improving the health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Victorian communities.
Since 2014 the Labor Government has invested more than $1.9 billion in community sport and recreation.
The second round of the fund is set to open later this year. For more information about the Fund and successful projects visit sport.vic.gov.au.
Quote attributable to Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant
“This funding is ensuring Bellarine sporting facilities are world class – meaning everyone in our community can enjoy the sports they love for years to come.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence
“The new Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund is about making sure all Victorians – regardless of their age, gender or ability – have access to high quality sport and recreation facilities no matter where they live.”
