Upgraded facilities open at Redan

NEW female friendly change rooms and facilities at the Western Oval have been officially opened, with the project was jointly funded by the State Government and the City of Ballarat.

With AFL-compliant change rooms and amenities, unisex umpire change rooms, storage and accessible public toilets now open at the site, Redan Football and Netball Club president Gary Goyne said the players are keen to put them to use.

“The female friendly facilities allow our players to go in and feel comfortable, getting changed and the like… it’s also a lot warmer than other facilities we’ve had in the past,” he said.

“We have a bit more work to do in our existing facilities for our netballers and we plan to do that over the next six months or so with the help of the Ballarat City council who have been wonderful in their support of us.”

Redan netball player Bridget O’Brien said everyone’s been looking forward to the new facilities.

“We usually have to just get changed in the car so it will be really great to have these new changing rooms,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to next season.”

As part of the works the City of Ballarat put in $463,000, while $100,000 came from the State Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Cr Samantha McIntosh said this project is one of the municipality’s developments at various sporting grounds around the city.

“These projects are making a great difference to our whole Ballarat and surrounds and making sure that we provide not just inclusive but female friendly change rooms as well,” she said.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison added, “To be able to have female friendly facilities, that says to women and girls, you are welcome in any sport you want to play.

“We want to be able to make sure everyone can use these facilities and no one is discriminated against.”