Premier pledges $5 million towards stage two of precinct

PREMIER Daniel Andrews has injected $50,000 into the Drysdale Sports Precinct to fast-track planning on an updated masterplan for stage two.

The announcement came as Mr Andrews promised to deliver $5 million towards stage two of the project if an Andrews Labor Government was re-elected in November.

Before the 2014 election, Labor committed $3.5 million to stage one of the project, which saw construction of a new oval, a multipurpose field, cricket practice pitches, a relocatable pavilion and lighting installation.

With this work completed in early 2018 – and local sporting groups including the Drysdale Hawks Football Club, the Drysdale Cricket Club and the Drysdale Soccer Club already benefitting – a re-elected Labor Government has pledged to kick start the next stage of much-needed upgrades.

Stage two will see the creation of three rectangular playing fields located alongside a new multi-use pavilion, brand new play spaces and cricket training nets, better water storage and improvements to the access roads, car park and pathways.

“Having grown up in a small regional town, I know just how much the local sporting clubs matter,” Mr Andrews said.

“We funded the first stage of this fantastic project, but we know there’s more to do.”

Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville said she had worked in close partnership with the Drysdale sporting clubs to ensure the funding and building of stage one, and was pleased her government was committed to funding stage two and delivering $50,000 to finalise the masterplan.

“The community have been unsuccessful in getting this critical money from council,” Ms Neville said.

“This will ensure there are no delays in delivering stage two.”