6 April 2016

The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with the job of giving Gippsland communities, the great sport and recreation facilities they deserve.

Harriet Shing, Member for Eastern Victoria today announced $750,000 in Community Sports Infrastructure Fund grants to deliver two projects in the Wellington Shire.

The Andrews Labor Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund is giving communities all over Victoria the state-of-the-art sport and recreation facilities we promised.

The Major Facilities grant of $650,000 will contribute to the $3 million project to construct a new sub-regional multipurpose synthetic field and an accessible sports pavilion, catering for use by multiple sporting codes concurrently, particularly for hockey and soccer.

The Cowwarr Recreation Reserve project receives a $100,000 Female Friendly Facilities grant to address the gap in provision of female friendly facilities at the Reserve. The development includes new netball change rooms, unisex umpire change rooms, accessible/family change toilets and a new accessible entry.

Grassroots sports clubs are the lifeblood of Victoria’s suburbs and towns. The Labor Government is listening to communities, who say they need better sport and recreation facilities to attract more members and grow. Victoria’s population is set to boom – that’s why the $100 million Community Sports Infrastructure Fund is so important.

Victoria is the sporting state, and the Andrews Government wants it to stay that way. The Community Sports Infrastructure Fund is helping clubs update tired grounds, and communities build the facilities they need.

It includes a $10 million fund for women’s change rooms – the single biggest investment in women’s participation in sport by an Australian state government.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“We promised Gippsland communities the great sporting facilities they deserve, and along with the enormous contributions from people such as John Leslie OBE, that’s exactly what we’re delivering.”

“Communities in Gippsland love hockey, soccer and netball, and these important projects will encourage more participants of all abilities to play and compete at better facilities in the Wellington Shire”.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, John Eren

“Victoria is the sporting state, and we want it to stay that way. It means happy and healthy Victorians, and a stronger state.”