Sporting plan activates across the region

THE City of Ballarat and surrounding regions will work to strengthen participation in sport and recreation through new strategic plan, Activate 2020-2030.

The 10-year program and study is aimed at improving health, wellbeing and liveability, and will act as a structure for local government and partner groups to refer to when developing sport and activity opportunities.

The plan has been designed to get a better idea of recreation and infrastructure, more people active, as well as identify challenges, areas for collaboration, and encourage partnerships between multiple tiers of government.

WestVic Academy of Sport is a strategy foundational partner. WVAS executive officer, Corey Saitta said the plan is a roadmap to optimise local and broader regional sport and recreation programs.

“In our case at the WestVic Academy of Sport, the strategy looks at ways of strengthening sporting pathways for athletes from the region by fostering grass roots community participation, through to regional, state and national selection level,” he said.

“The overarching vision underpinning the strategy is for us to work together to ensure that the Central Highlands and Grampians-Pyrenees region is the most active, healthy and liveable in Victoria.”

Sports at the forefront of the plan include cycling, athletics, indoor cricket, tennis, hockey and skating.

With Women’s Health Grampians, Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative, Sports Central and Central Highlands Primary Care Partnership also on board, Activate 2020 – 2030 also covers the Ararat Rural City Council as well as Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool, Northern Grampians and Pyrenees shires.

City of Ballarat mayor, Cr Ben Taylor said Activate 2020 – 2030 will promote teamwork amongst participating municipalities and strengthen joint sporting and recreation infrastructure.

“It will untap the vast potential of our communities,” he said.

The plan is supported by the State government.