Labor promises to chip in $2.4m for Seagulls revamp

LABOR Bellarine candidate Alison Marchant has promised $2.4 million for an upgrade of Barwon Heads Football Netball Club’s clubrooms if the party retains government at the coming state election.

Improved social and spectator areas and new facilities to cater for the Seagulls’ burgeoning women’s sport program are among the key features of the funding commitment.

Ms Marchant was at Barwon Heads this week to announce the election promise, which the club said would provide a valuable boost to its players and the wider community.

Howard Hamer Oval’s pavilion would have expanded social rooms including a viewing deck and improved terraced viewing area as part of the revamp.

Female players, especially footballers, are also among the big winners with new changerooms on the way for the club’s soaring number of participants.

Barwon Heads Football Netball Club president Tim Goddard said the upgrade would support the Seagulls cater for more player and teams after it more than doubled its participation rates in recent years.

“These funds will help out club and our community no end,” Mr Goddard said.

“We have grown from 15 teams in 2005 to 39 teams in 2022.

“The number of footballers has grown with a big increase in girls and women playing football and netball, ranging from seven years old to 50 years old.

“As a club we need to provide facilities which respects our players, our club and our community and this investment will do just that.”

Ms Marchant said the upgrades would have flow-on effects for the wider Geelong football community.

“The Andrews Labor Government has always backed the Cats – and with up to $2.4 million towards the redevelopment of the Barwon Heads Football and Netball Club pavilion, we’ll help local kids on their journey to become the next Joel Selwood or Amy McDonald,” she said.

The current government’s Sport Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the new facilities would help keep more children and families engaged in sport, while Community Sport Minister Ros spence said the modern facilities would help Barwon Heads FNC to build on its present wave of momentum.

The upgrade is timely for the Barwon Heads club, which is celebrating its centenary this year and celebrated its second consecutive Bellarine Football League premiership earlier this month.

Ms Marchant is aiming to follow in the footsteps of outgoing Bellarine MP Lisa Neville as a Labor representative for the seat, as Ms Neville retires this year after 20 years in Parliament.

Victorians head to the polls on November 26.