Federal funding for better netball facilities

BETTER accessibility for some of the region’s female netball players to the Golden Plains Shire’s north is on the way thanks to a grant from the Federal Government.

Management of the Linton Recreation Reserve is being supported with $220,000 through the Play Our Way program, which is aimed at improving equity for women and girls in sports.

Member for Ballarat Catherine King joined Shire and Carngham Linton Football Netball Club representatives at the site to announce the cash on Wednesday last week.

Ms King said it is important female players are given the same opportunities as men.

“There’s 100,000 or so young women in Victoria playing netball so it’s a huge sport for girls,” she said.

“[It’s about] making sure young women have great facilities as well to play in. We’ve been looking after football and cricket and now it’s time to look after netball.

“It brings, alongside the investment we’ve made into the [recreation reserve’s] oval, up to almost $1 million from the Albanese Government coming into Linton.”

The upgrades include new LED lighting in line with Netball Victoria’s minimum standards as well as an overhaul of the site’s informal changerooms to include administrative and storage space.

Reserve committee member Eugene Grigg said the improved facilities, particularly the lighting, will go a long way for the region’s netball offerings.

“It’ll pretty much complete the needs of our sporting group here,” he said.

“We’re fortunate to have A, B, C, and D senior netball, under 15s, 17s, 13as, and 13bs.

“When they’re trying to train at nighttime during the week, everyone can’t fit on at the same time so we have to stagger the times of it. By the time the seniors get on, it’s quite dark.

“They’ve been able to put up with a small light for a long period of time so this’ll make it so they can keep going.”

Mr Grigg estimated the club currently has 80 to 100 female netball players.

“We’re in a society now where everyone’s got to be treated equal,” he said.

“Our footballers have always been looked after to a degree and now it’s time to lift the bar so everybody has the same opportunities in sport.

“We’re not in a position where we can start a football team but we do like to progress our netball. Not long ago, we had three, four teams. Now we’ve got eight.”

Golden Plains Shire is one of 166 organisations across Australia to receive Play Our Way funding.

The Federal Government previously allocated $780,000 to overhaul Linton’s recreation reserve oval, inclusive of drainage works, which is scheduled to be opened to the community early next year.