Making his MARC

By Lachlan Ellis

In a week full of funding announcements in Moorabool, the headline event was a visit from the Premier of Victoria, to announce almost $2 million for an indoor sports stadium.

The Bacchus Marsh Indoor Sports Stadium is Stage One of the Moorabool Aquatic Recreation Centre (MARC) to be located at Taverner Street, with a $1.92 million injection from the State Government announced on Wednesday 13 April, complementing Council’s close to $15 million commitment.

Premier Andrews said the State Government was proud to provide not just a contribution to a project, but an investment in local youth sports.

“Moorabool Shire are great partners and we would not be able to get this new stadium without that partnership.

“This is almost $2 million from our government, more than that from the Council…but it’s not a ‘cost’, it’s a profound investment in making sure that local families have got the very best facilities,” he said.

Mr McGhie said the new facilities will be fantastic, not only for basketball but for netball and every other highball competition that’s played within the Bacchus Marsh district.

“We look forward to the build of this facility, it’s well-deserved and it’s a great commitment by Moorabool Council and the State Government,” he added.

Cr Sullivan said the development would build a “premier sports precinct that will benefit the whole Shire and beyond”.

“The stadium being built here today will provide four new indoor courts, as part of a major new sports and recreation precinct, and will enable existing sports to expand, ensuring a greater number of residents can participate in various levels of competition,” he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews was joined by local MPs Steve McGhie (Melton) and Michaela Settle (Buninyong) to turn the first sod, alongside Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan, Deputy Mayor Cr Tonia Dudzik, and Cr Moira Berry.

Representatives from future users of the stadium, the Bacchus Marsh Basketball Association (BMBA) and Bacchus Marsh Netball Association (BMNA), also joined in the celebrations.

Work on the site has already begun, with a completion scheduled for mid-2023.