Leighdale gets money for cover

TWO local recreation centres have received significant funding for upgrades.

Leighdale Equestrian Centre and Bannockburn Victoria Park ovals will share over $330,000 in State Government money from the 2021 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Leighdale Equestrian Centre will use its share of the money for a new undercover equestrian area including spectator seating, water tanks, lighting, and an upgraded area surface.

The new undercover area is designed to allow for greater use of the centre in off-peak periods and improve safety of the facility.

In Bannockburn money will be used at Victoria Park where two large protector nets behind the southern goals will be installed on both ovals.

The nets are designed to improve spectator safety and while preventing balls from entering the netball courts or hitting parked cars

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney congratulated the two recreation centres on their successful funding applications.

“This boost will go a long way to support the growing number of people keen to get involved in local sport and recreation,” she said.

“Local clubs bring so many of us together. This is a great example of how the Victorian Government is making sport and recreation more accessible, welcoming and inclusive for more Victorians.

Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Helena Kirby said the State Government’s contribution will make the two projects a reality.

“The upgrade of Leighdale Equestrian Centre will be a terrific project for the facility’s users and the Teesdale community,” she said.

“This project was born out of the site’s Masterplan which was adopted last year and will help ensure the centre can cater for the current growth in participants and events.”

The Leighdale Equestrian Centre Masterplan was established in August 2020, provides a strategic guide for stakeholder and the Shire’s continuing development of the facility until 2030.

The undercover area was not part of the original plan, however it did note that “undercover all-weather arenas” are a trend in equestrian centres across the State and only a BBQ shelter was included.