Ribbon cut on Bloods’ new home

UPGRADES to Kennington Recreation Reserve have been declared complete after a ribbon cutting event last week.

The $4.9 million in works was a jointly funded project between the City of Grater Bendigo and the State Government.

Improvements at the reserve include the redevelopment of the pavilion with four new changerooms and an extra female safe/ all abilities space, spectator viewing areas for both football and netball, and social rooms.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the capital upgrades would benefit a range of users of the park.

“The reserve is home to the Bendigo United Cricket Club and the redevelopment has supported the full relocation of South Bendigo Football Netball Club from the Queen Elizabeth Oval to Kennington,” she said.

“It’s been an important project because the reserve caters for over 700 players and provides improved facilities for the wider community.”

With $2 million for the works coming from the State Government, Deputy-Premier and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allen, said the upgrades could increase the numbers of women playing sport.

“It means the user clubs will have the ability to expand their programs, develop more junior teams and target female participation,” she said.

“It also supports the demand for sporting facilities to cater for growing sports participation rates.”

One player set to benefit from the works was South Bendigo FNC netballer Carissa Brook.

She said the completed upgrades would have positive effects on and off the court.

“The fact is, for our club, we’re all more unified,” she said. “We actually have a space where we’re together, we’re not separated from each other, and it just brings up so many more opportunities for the club.

“It’s going to allow us to expand so much more and the development this will create is just amazing.

“We’ve been at the QEO [Queen Elizabeth Oval] and obviously that facility is amazing, but to be able to have our own space here where we have or own change rooms… just seeing the viewing area we have, we’ve never had seating or anything like that before.”

As well as upgrades to the pavilion and netball court, other works included adding a new carpark, improved emergency vehicle access, walking paths and landscaping.