Lions pushing for netball funding nudge

BELMONT Lions Sports Club (SC) is keen to resume conversations with the City of Greater Geelong regarding upgrades identified in a Facility Development Plan for Winter Reserve.

The development plan, commissioned by the city in 2020/2021 in partnership with the Belmont Lions, highlighted the club’s need for netball and umpire change facilities, additional courts, better kitchen facilities and the need for storage, scoreboards and goal netting.

The plan stated the reserve has had an uptake in participation and upgrades would help facilitate, foster and retain participation.

The state government allocated $1 million of funding in this year’s state budget to the upgrades, and Belmont Lions Sports Club vice president Tyrrell Hill said the club was keen to move the plan forward.

“We’re very dependent on the council to work with us to get the works done.

“At this point, we don’t have a budget position from council and that needs to be resolved.

“At this stage, the full works pertaining to the high priority items, would take another $1.7 million, however, we want to work with council in any way we can so we can start works.”

The city’s acting director of customer, community and economy Bryce Prosser said construction cost increases had required the city to put about $80 million of previously planned capital projects on hold.

“Winter Reserve has had facilities upgrades in recent years but we agree there is a need for further improvements to support netball and broader female participation,” he said.

“We acknowledge that the Belmont Lions have made a submission to our budget process highlighting this need.

“Pending the final outcome of our budget process, we’ll meet with the club to start working through what can be delivered with the $1 million committed by the Victorian government.”

The club hires a portable building out of its own budget each year, which serves as the club’s netball training and game-day storage facility located next to its netball court.

The building is transported into Winter Reserve at the beginning of each season and has no electricity for lighting or heating.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens described the club’s female change facilities as a “tin shed”.

“No women or girls should have to put up with substandard facilities such as this,” she said.

“Having female-friendly facilities at every sports ground should be a priority of Geelong council. Belmont Lions lack the female-friendly facilities other clubs have been provided with, backed by Andrews Government funding.

“Clubs find it hard to attract and retain women and girls if their change facilities are substandard or non-existent.”

The Lions also have an infrastructure fund containing $80,000, raised through club membership fees and fundraising events. The club says it will assist with any future infrastructure project costs.