King promises rec upgrades

MEMBER for Ballarat, Catherine King, was at the Woady Yaloak Recreation Reserve in Smythedale on Thursday to pledge funding for upgrades to some of Golden Plains Shire’s smaller projects under an elected Labor Government.

The promise would see $500,000 go towards new lighting at the Woady Yaloak Recreation Reserve, $750,000 allocated to the Linton Rec Reserve redevelopment, and $350,000 for the Maude Pavilion upgrade.

Each project was chosen as a priority from Golden Plains Shire, and Ms King said the offered works demonstrates her party’s commitment to smaller community spaces.

“Our investments in these projects across Golden Plains will deliver a better future to communities across the region, giving them better places to come together, exercise and play sport,” she said.

“This is in partnership with the council, so the council in some of those projects is putting in some money and then some, I think, it’s the whole funding for it.”

Reconstruction of Linton Oval is valued at $880,000, and would see a complete overhaul of the field’s playing surface with a focus on drainage.

The funds would also cover half the $700,000 cost to build a new tennis pavilion at the Maude Recreation Reserve, which includes a social room and viewing deck.

Mark Ashmore, junior coordinator of the Woady Yaloak Football Netball Club, said support for the new lighting at Smythesdale’s Rec Reserve would go a long way in facilitating the growth of the club.

“Our under nines play night games where we’ve previously had to hire lights so it’s fantastic that eventually we’ll be able to just flick a switch and the whole thing’s lit up,” he said.

“That’s something that the club couldn’t pay for without the promise of government.”