LAST Thursday marked the official opening of the new netball facilities at the Learmonth Football Netball Club.<\/p>\n
The project cost more than $700,000 with more than $500,000 coming from the City of Ballarat and the other $250,000 provided by the State Government.<\/p>\n
Works included two new courts with LED sports lighting, shelter and fencing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a club that continues to welcome new and existing players back to our club, so the demand to play netball keeps on growing, and to have these large facilities that can accommodate a lot more people playing is great,\u201d said club president Stephen Griffin.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn a Thursday night we can have over 100 players here at a time so it\u2019s great we can all be together training and we have a lot of room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although last week marked the official opening of the courts, they have already had plenty of use in this year\u2019s Central Highlands Netball League season.<\/p>\n
All eight of the Lakies netball teams made it to the finals, with both A and B Grade teams taking home premierships.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year was a club success where all eligible teams that could play finals did play finals,\u201d said Mr Griffin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had three finals here this year and it accommodated the crowd really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Cr Hudson said he hopes the new courts will lead to more community participation in netball.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen facilities like this come online there is a real opportunity to continue to grow the sport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019ve seen in other areas of Ballarat is that when we invest in sport and recreation projects, we see a swell of participation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett, said that as well as increasing numbers of netballers at the club, she hopes the facilities can be used by the entire community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is going to mean more participation in sport and we know that sport is the lifeblood of our country towns,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t going to just be used by the Football Netball Club, it\u2019s going to be used by the whole community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAST Thursday marked the official opening of the new netball facilities at the Learmonth Football Netball Club. The project cost more than $700,000 with more than $500,000 coming from the City of Ballarat and the other $250,000 provided by the State Government. Works included two new courts with LED sports lighting, shelter and fencing. \u201cWe\u2019re […]<\/p>\n