Miners Rest to get new sports site

WITH the Commonwealth Games less than three years away, major works to expand Ballarat’s sports facilities are on the way.

Announced on Tuesday, a $150 million State Government package is set to pay for a new sports venue in Miners Rest as well as upgrades to Mars Stadium.

Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan, said the Miners Rest site was about minimising disruption to local sport during the Games.

“We need to build new sporting facilities that will support the continuation of community sport while we’re making that big investment in Mars Stadium,” she said.

As Mars Stadium is home to North Ballarat FNC, the club will have to move during the Commonwealth Games and Ms Allan said Miners Rest will be their temporary home.

“We need to provide facilities for North Ballarat Football Stadium, and those facilities will be built here at Miners Rest,” she said.

The new facility is set to be built on vacant land at the corner of Howe Street and Cummins Road and will include a competition-grade oval, pavilion and changerooms.

Upgrades to Mars Stadium will include an extra 5000 permanent seats, an athletics track and accessibility improvements.

An expression of interest went out earlier this week to find a head contractor for the Mars Stadium upgrades.

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson said the Miners Rest venue will provide a much-needed facility for Ballarat’s west.

“After the [Comm Games] athletes are gone, this becomes a permanent legacy,” he said.

“At Miners Rest, it’s a very family-friendly environment. Putting in essential sporting infrastructure is really important to give the community a sense of place and belonging.”