MP urges council to honour Portarlington funding commitment

AS VICTORIAN government-funded upgrades to the Portarlington Recreation Reserve near completion, Bellarine MP Alison Marchant is calling on the City of Greater Geelong to reinstate the funding it previously committed to the project.

Ms Marchant pledged $3.15 million to help deliver key improvements, outlined in the city’s own masterplan for the site, ahead of the 2022 state poll, with the city agreeing to contribute $1.157 million.

“That joint commitment gave the community confidence that the vision of the masterplan could be realised,” Ms Marchant said.

The city subsequently pulled this funding in 2023, effectively placing the project on hold alongside a further $80 million in promised projects, attributing the move to financial constraints.

At the time, then-community services delivery director Robyn Stevens said the project would remain on the city’s agenda with a promise to reinstate the funding when possible.

Ms Marchant said she had worked in “good faith” with the council and given them the “benefit of time”, but with key elements of the masterplan unable to proceed without the city’s funding, had opted to make a formal submission as part of its 2025-26 budget process.

“With no progress made, I am now firmly advocating on behalf of all users of the reserve, for local ratepayers and for the wider Portarlington community,” she said.

“The people of Portarlington have campaigned for years for this investment. The removal of council funding – while projects in other parts of the municipality continue to be funded – sends a disheartening message to this community.

 

 

“This is a setback for a community that simply wants fair treatment and a council that is prepared to stand with them – not walk away.”

Ms Marchant’s calls have been echoed by the Portarlington Football Netball Club, with president Stephen Cogger saying the reinstatement was “well overdue”, as the club works towards fielding a senior female football team in 2026 and faces the prospect of being unable to provide it suitable facilities.

Meanwhile, its netball teams have been forced to train on tennis courts.

“It’s disappointing that we’re not getting the attention from council that the region deserves.

“Our numbers are growing, and we’ve got more responsibility with youth, but we’re being restricted by facilities.

“We understand quite clearly that the governments and councils are short of money, but they’ve found money to invest in other areas within Geelong.”

Anthony Basford, the city’s executive director of city life, said the delivery of the masterplan for the precinct remains a priority, with future council funding to be assessed “against affordability”

“We are currently focused on delivering a football/cricket pavilion change room upgrade, reserve entry and car park upgrade, cricket practice facility upgrade, Oval 2 cricket wicket replacement and Bellarine Agricultural Society shed installation, via $3.75 million in state and federal funding,” he said.

“We will continue to work with the community and key stakeholders to advocate for further funding to deliver other projects identified in the masterplan in stages.”