Liberals match sporting pledge in Drysdale

Drysdale A Grade netball coach Calsey Taylor, female footballer Caitlin Redmond, Liberal candidate for Corangamite Darcy Dunstan, club president Trevor Hume and seniors footballer Tom Ruggles at Drysdale Recreation Reserve. Photo: BRIAN ALLEN

BETTER sporting facilities are coming to Drysdale regardless of the May 3 result, with the Liberals matching Labor’s $5.45 million election commitment.

This week, Liberal candidate for Corangamite Darcy Dunstan announced that if the Coalition formed government, his party would also provide funding to construct two new netball courts, upgraded clubrooms, new spectator seating and lighting at Drysdale Recreation Reserve.

Mr Dunstan said Drysdale Football and Netball Club had more than a thousand members in 2024, and the facilities at Drysdale Recreation Reserve were not able to keep up with demand.

“Regional areas are feeling the pressure from the last three years and unless we speak up and support our community clubs, young kids and families will have to be turned away from local sport.”

Drysdale Football and Netball Club president Trevor Hume welcomed the announcement.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Darcy and the Liberal Party; Darcy has put in a lot of hard work to secure this commitment,” he said.

“We’ve had a great relationship with Darcy for some time now — even if he does volunteer over at Modewarre! Jokes aside, he’s been a strong backer of our community and our club, and this support really means a lot to us.”

The commitment follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Corangamite MP Libby Coker’s visit to the reserve on April 1 to make Labor’s $5.45 million commitment.