Upgrades promised for rec reserves

FEDERAL member for Ballarat Catherine King visited the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve at Creswick last week to pledge upgrades at various sporting complexes across Hepburn Shire should Labor win the upcoming Federal election.

The commitments would see Doug Lindsay Reserve receive $750,000, along with $500,000 for Glenlyon Recreation Reserve Pavilion, and $365,000 towards the Mineral Springs Reserves Development Program at Hepburn.

With the bowling green at Doug Lindsay Reserve damaged in recent floods, Ms King said the upgrades and repairs pledge aligns with the needs of the local community and Hepburn Shire.

“One of the things I’ve been really careful of is to make sure that these are projects that have come from local councils,” she said.

“I’ve always had a strong relationship with all of the local councils in my area. It’s why we’ve chosen projects that have come from their advocacy documents.

“They are projects that have strong community support and are ready.”

Other projects for Doug Lindsay Reserve would include surfacing works for the carpark and updated facilities for all the club rooms.

Tourism boosting will be the priority for Mineral Springs Reserve, while updates to Glenlyon will see more accessible walking trails with additional signage for foot traffic.

Doug Lindsay Reserve’s bowling green has been out of commission for the past few months and chair of Creswick Bowling Club, Gerry Flapper, said he hopes works can start as soon as possible.

“It’s got to be fixed one way or another, and our members are really concerned about it. We just want to be told it’s going to get fixed and very soon,” he said.

“When a truck pulls up and starts lifting the bowling green that’s when I’ll start jumping for joy and be very, very happy.”