$4m overhaul for reserve

By Lachlan Ellis

The pavilion at Ballan Recreation Reserve will be demolished in the coming weeks, with just over $4 million for the new works contributed by a range of groups.

The State Government provided $3 million under Sports & Recreation Victoria (SRV), while Moorabool Council contributed close to $870,000, including a $90,000 Community Grant.

Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, joined Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan to turn the first sod on Wednesday 16 February and said the works were the culmination of consultation with the user groups, and cooperation between the State Government and Council.

“I’m eternally grateful that Council got behind this project and supported it in a really substantial way. There was a substantial financial commitment that was required from Council to get what we needed, but it’s also been about the consultation,” Ms Settle said.

“There’s a lot of people’s needs that needed to be addressed and discussed, and I was really delighted about the amount of effort Council have put in to discussing with these local groups what they wanted, and making sure that they got it.”

The Ballan Recreation Reserve’s Committee of Management raised $40,000 for the improvements, which when completed will include a large function room, kitchen and bar, office space, meeting rooms and storage sheds for the tenant sporting clubs.

The pavilion’s new change rooms will include four female friendly change rooms and umpire change rooms, with a new tiered concourse improving the view of the oval.

User groups including the Ballan Football & Netball Club, Tennis Club, Cricket Club and Kyokuchin Karate Club also use the Reserve and will benefit from the upgrades.

Cr Sullivan said it has been a journey, but at the end of the day “we’re going to end up with a very good development for Ballan.”

This is an exciting development …this is a collaborative affair,” he added.

“There’s been a lot of buy-in from Government, Council and the community that gives these projects a far better outcome. Everyone has ownership of it, it’ll be a place of pride for the people of Ballan who use this facility.”

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-02-22/1

in the 22 February 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.