Alfredton Rec ready for a refurb

THE Minister for Community Sport has signed off on the State government’s 2018 election commitment to upgrade Alfredton Recreation Reserve.

With $3.7 million from the State, the project will see a further $1.1 million from the City of Ballarat go towards capital works on club and social rooms, undercover viewing areas and decking, cricket nets, fencing, storage, parking, female-friendly changerooms and a digital scoreboard.

The precinct is utilised by Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowls Club, Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club, Ballarat Football Netball Club, and Alfredton and St Thomas More primary schools, but Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said some women and girls have been deterred from these sporting offerings due to a lack of appropriate facilities.

“They have to get changed in the car or behind buildings because we traditionally haven’t had the changerooms that women and girls deserve,” she said.

“We’re setting that right today…with further funding for female-friendly changerooms. We’re very proud of our commitment to women and girls’ sport.”

Ballarat Swans’ vice president, Craig Lightfoot said 15 further teams have found a home at the reserve in the last three years.

“Particularly around female participation, we’ve seen 10 more netball teams and five girls’ football teams,” he said.

“The support we’ve seen from the…government will go a long way to allow that growth to continue in sport out here, and shows how important that sport is.

“Thank you to the bowling club and to the cricket club for their support in this development as well, we’re looking forward to having a fantastic facility for the growth corridor in Ballarat West.”

BMSBC president, Kevin McLean said he’s excited about what’s to come.

“We’re very sure that…it’ll only be a bright future for everybody up here,” he said.

City of Ballarat mayor, Cr Ben Taylor said the next step is the design and tender processes, before construction.

“This has been a long wait for all the groups that have been associated here over many years,” he said.

“This is a great contribution to this community because we know how good sporting facilities are to get people out, active and wanting to contribute, and for health and wellbeing.”