Asher posts up $500k for Wurdi Baierr upgrades

LIBERAL candidate for Corangamite Stephanie Asher is hoping her election pledge of up to $500,000 for upgrades at Wurdi Baierr Stadium will be a slam dunk with voters in the Surf Coast.

Earlier this week, Ms Asher visited the stadium in Torquay North to announce the Morrison Government, if re-elected, would deliver up to $460,000 for state-of-the-art courtside seating as well as up to $40,000 for an electronic scoreboard.

Ms Asher said the upgrades would support more residents to get active and support connections across local communities.

“Wurdi Baierr stadium is an outstanding community facility that is experiencing enormous growth.”

“Some 175 teams participated in the association’s 2021-22 summer competition, ranging from 12 teams playing in the newly formed Under 8 competition to some 40 teams playing in the open men and women’s competitions.”

“In the past two years, the number of teams has doubled. With higher level playing opportunities such as the Big V now a feature at Wurdi Baierr Stadium, this courtside seating which accommodates up to 500 spectators is now an essential requirement.”

“This investment, along with an electronic scoreboard, will deliver first-class facilities for local basketball and other events which attract a large number of spectators.”

Wurdi Baierr Stadium contains three new indoor basketball courts and also takes in the existing indoor court at Surf Coast Secondary College, and is the Surf Coast Shire’s largest infrastructure project to date.

Pronounced “word-ee bay-ear”, and named after the Wadawurrung words for “big gathering place”, it also contains, meeting rooms, change facilities, a cafe, all abilities design features and extra car parking.

The $12.75 million stadium was officially opened in March 2021 and was funded by the shire ($5.5 million), the Morrison Government through the Building Better Regions Fund ($5 million), and the Andrews Government via the Better Indoor Stadiums Fund ($3 million).