THE Minister for Community Sport has signed off on the State government\u2019s 2018 election commitment to upgrade Alfredton Recreation Reserve.<\/p>\n
With $3.7 million from the State, the project will see a further $1.1 million from the City of Ballarat go towards capital works on club and social rooms, undercover viewing areas and decking, cricket nets, fencing, storage, parking, female-friendly changerooms and a digital scoreboard.<\/p>\n
The precinct is utilised by Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowls Club, Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club, Ballarat Football Netball Club, and Alfredton and St Thomas More primary schools, but Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said some women and girls have been deterred from these sporting offerings due to a lack of appropriate facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to get changed in the car or behind buildings because we traditionally haven\u2019t had the changerooms that women and girls deserve,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re setting that right today…with further funding for female-friendly changerooms. We\u2019re very proud of our commitment to women and girls\u2019 sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat Swans\u2019 vice president, Craig Lightfoot said 15 further teams have found a home at the reserve in the last three years.<\/p>\n
\u201cParticularly around female participation, we\u2019ve seen 10 more netball teams and five girls\u2019 football teams,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support we\u2019ve seen from the…government will go a long way to allow that growth to continue in sport out here, and shows how important that sport is.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to the bowling club and to the cricket club for their support in this development as well, we\u2019re looking forward to having a fantastic facility for the growth corridor in Ballarat West.\u201d<\/p>\n
BMSBC president, Kevin McLean said he\u2019s excited about what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very sure that…it\u2019ll only be a bright future for everybody up here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat mayor, Cr Ben Taylor said the next step is the design and tender processes, before construction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been a long wait for all the groups that have been associated here over many years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a great contribution to this community because we know how good sporting facilities are to get people out, active and wanting to contribute, and for health and wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Minister for Community Sport has signed off on the State government\u2019s 2018 election commitment to upgrade Alfredton Recreation Reserve. With $3.7 million from the State, the project will see a further $1.1 million from the City of Ballarat go towards capital works on club and social rooms, undercover viewing areas and decking, cricket nets, […]<\/p>\n