Bellarine benefits from million-dollar budget boost

TWO surf lifesaving clubs on the Bellarine and a Country Fire Authority brigade will share in $2.5 million from the state budget 2018/19, which was announced on Tuesday.

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville announced an additional $1.2 million for the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, which was on top of the previously promised and delivered $2.7 million, in order for the club to deliver the full redevelopment that it needs to effectively carrying out its important work.

“I have been very pleased to have worked in close partnership with the club over many years in securing this significant funding to transform its outdated and tired rooms into a state of the art, purpose built surf lifesaving facility,” Ms Neville said.

She said the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, led by president David Pavia, had worked extremely hard over years in planning and fundraising for the upgrade of their clubrooms.

Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club will also receive $500,000 to complete its clubroom upgrade.

Ms Neville said that the club had received state funding of $1.5 million in 2017, but after planning and design works had been completed there was a shortfall of $500,000 to complete the works.

She said that the PLSLSC and its members, led by club president Matt Ponsford, had worked hard over many years in raising more than $400,000 for the upgrade and now this year’s budget allocation would ensure that the upgrade would now go ahead.

Leopold Fire Brigade has also been handed down $800,000 to ensure the brigade can now grow and be equipped with the facility it needs to protect the Leopold and wider community well into the future.

Ms Neville said that given the significant growth in population and infrastructure of Leopold over the last decade, there was a now need to for an upgrade of the local brigade.

“The $800,000 funding will allow the CFA and the Leopold Brigade to determine the best and most effective options for the brigade to carry out its duties in protecting the local community well into the future.

As previously announced, three Bellarine Schools will share in a budget boost of $1.4 million to upgrade their facilities, which includes Surfside Primary School with $1.3 million, $600,000 to Moolap Primary School and $400,000 to Wallington Primary School.

Drysdale Soccer Club has received $4,500 to develop a new strategic plan to help manage the club’s growth, while Ocean Grove Tennis Club received a grant for $860,000 to upgrade its courts and rooms, particularly to ensure tennis is available to people of all abilities and ages.