State kicks in for Grovedale changerooms

BURDOO Reserve in Grovedale will receive a much-needed facilities upgrade after the state government announced a $100,000 grant to help fund the project.

Home of the Grovedale football, netball and cricket clubs, Burdoo Reserve’s change-rooms are outdated and do not comply with moder standards.

The redevelopment will see the construction of gender neutral facilities for use by the club’s more than 500 participants, including its four junior girls’ and one senior women’s football teams.

The project will cost about $390,000, with the City of Greater Geelong to contribute $260,000 and the club to put in $30,000. Construction will begin this financial year.

Minister for Sport John Eren visited Burdoo Reserve on Friday to announce the funding, part of the state government’s Country Football and Netball Funding Program (CFNP), which aims to improve facilities in rural, regional and outer metropolitan areas.

The council applied for the grant in March.

“Footy and netball clubs like Grovedale are the heart and soul of our communities, but many are struggling with run down pavilions or grounds that can’t cope with demand,” Mr Eren said.

“This round of grants will go a long way to help cater for the growing numbers of people keen to get involved in grassroots sport, providing more opportunities for people in Geelong to get active and play the sport they love.”

“We’ve invested almost half a billion dollars to ensure sport and active recreation are accessible to all Victorians.”

Under the G21 and AFL Barwon Regional Strategy 2015, Burdoo Reserve’s changerooms were identified as a priority for upgrade.

It becomes the fifth reserve in the municipality to receive partial funding for changeroom upgrades under the CFNP during the past five years.

The others are Leopold Memorial Reserve (2014/15), Anakie Reserve (2016/17), Winter Reserve, Belmont (2017/18), and Richmond Crescent Reserve in South Geelong (2018/19, round one).

“This upgrade is one of several we’re funding around the region in response to the rapid growth of women’s sport participation,” acting mayor Peter Murrihy said.

“Our thanks to the state government for its contribution, and congratulations to the Grovedale Sporting Club on the excellent work it’s done to champion the project and help bring it to this point.”