Building boon for North Bendigo sports teams

A ROSTER of sporting clubs who call North Bendigo home are celebrating two major announcements that would transform the precinct with modernised facilities and extra changerooms.

Firstly, the Australian Labor Party has pledged $3 million to demolish the old pavilion at North Bendigo Oval, built in 1970, and construct a new building, if re-elected on 3 May.

The new premises will be female-friendly and include four changerooms, umpire amenities, function facilities, a kitchen/kiosk, storage/first aid/office space, and an outdoor, undercover viewing area.

The City of Greater Bendigo will contribute a further $2.4 million towards the build.

Federal member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters thanked the North Bendigo community for their advocacy on the project.

“The community deserves up-to-date facilities, and a re-elected Labor government will deliver this,” she said.

Plans have also been revealed for a new soccer pavilion adjacent to the oval, which has already been funded via a $1 million federal government commitment prior to the last election, a $1 million contribution from the state government and $700,000 from COGB.

The pavilion will incorporate new clubrooms for Golden City Football Club’s men’s and women’s soccer teams and Swordcraft Bendigo, and will include storage, office space, referee changerooms, a kiosk and an undercover spectator space.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the city was delighted to join with its funding partners to unveil the plans.

“This is an exciting next step in this project and we thank the user groups for their input and Y2 Architecture for the design,” she said.

“The city will be going to tender next month to engage a contractor to deliver this project, with the intention of completing (it) by September 2026.”