Ribbon cut on rec reserve works

FOLLOWING the completion of an irrigation and drainage project, the Alfredton Village Green oval opened last Friday, ready for the winter sport season.

Along with the new irrigation system, the field also has upgraded connections from the pavilion to ground, which City of Ballarat mayor Daniel Moloney will all be of great benefit to the community.

“These are great facilities and I come past here all the time to see how busy and active it always is,” he said.

Funded through a statewide partnership, the project totalled at $840,000 which included a large contribution from the City of Ballarat, as well as money from the State Government and Sport and Recreation Victoria.

With the upgrades, the space should be able to host an increased capacity and include more training, matches and participation opportunities throughout the entire year.

Ballarat Swans football player Jenna Burke said that her and her team members are excited to train and play on the new oval as it is a huge improvement to the old muddy and sloshy ground.

“During winter, it used to be so bad to play on and was so muddy,” she said.

“It just finished up a few months ago but just opened up so it will be more exciting to bring other teams to the ground because it’s nice and new.”

Ballarat Football Club junior coach Scott Petrie added, “It’s an asset to those who use it and the benefit to the community and the kids who play on it will be endless.”

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the drainage and irrigation project was just the start of the Victorian Government’s involvement redevelopment of the Alfredton Recreation Reserve.

“This is where I played as a kid and this is an important resource for a growing community,” she said.

“We put in $100,000 and for us that money was a down payment for an announcement we made three months later saying that we were going to put in $3.7 million for this Alfredton Rec Reserve which we are hoping will be finished by August 2022.

“This is what the community want, they want to see State Government and council working together.”