Sporting chance: Labor pledges $3.25m to Leopold reserve upgrades

THE Leopold Memorial Reserve will get a $3.25 million upgrade if Labor wins the coming federal election.

Corangamite Labor federal MP Libby Coker and Corio Labor federal MP and Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles announced details of the pledge to the sporting facilities this week.
The commitment will include:

• $2.1 million towards major upgrades of the old junior change room, including the toilet block facilities, ensuring there are modern change rooms for all local participants across football, cricket and netball
• $600,000 towards a modern half-court sized netball training facility, and
• $550,000 towards modernising parking for the community and necessary signage.

“Leopold Reserve is the community heart of Leopold, with cricket, footy, netball, tennis played there, and it has the local Lions, Scouts and RSL,” Ms Coker said.

“There’s also walking and cycling pathways and community meeting rooms.

“This is a real investment in the Leopold community to promote activities that bring people together and keep people fit
and healthy.

“Investments in community take many forms but Labor believes community-level sporting infrastructure as a very high priority as it fosters inclusiveness, teamwork, respect and leadership.

“Kids learn all those values that are central to a strong community, and of course there are preventative health benefits as well.

“I would also like to thank the club officials who I have worked with to deliver this funding.

“Leopold has some great community leaders, and they do the Leopold community proud.”

Mr Marles said sporting clubs were the lifeblood of our local communities, but needed suitable facilities if they were going to be viable in bringing people together.

“With Labor’s investment, the Leopold Memorial Reserve will become a place where more local families can come to spend their time outdoors, kicking a footy, or catching
a ball.

“The past two and a bit years have been really tough on families right across the Geelong region, and this upgrade from Labor is an investment to make sure we have modern and safe facilities where local clubs, families and members of the community can once again come together in the spirit of the Leopold community.”