Local Ballarat football, netball, and cricket are just some of the sports set to benefit from new female friendly facilities at Western Oval in Ballarat.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison MP today joined Cr Samantha McIntosh from City of Ballarat to officially open the new facilities, made possible by a $100,000 investment from the Victorian Government.

Western Oval is home to the Redan Football Netball Club and Brown Hill Cricket Club. Before the pandemic female membership had soared. These new upgrades will provide welcoming spaces for all players.

The upgraded pavilion features new female friendly change rooms, along with female friendly umpire rooms to support the growing number of female umpires. It also features fully accessible facilities for players and visitors of all abilities.

The new areas will provide the perfect base for clubs to host more training, competitions, and development programs.

The City of Ballarat contributed $463,667 to this project and received $100,000 from the Victorian Government’s 2018-2019 Community Sport Infrastructure Fund – Female Friendly Facilities.

The Victorian Government has invested more than $1.05 billion in community sport and recreation infrastructure since 2014.

This includes a recent budget boost of $110 million to the Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program as well as an extra $27 million to make sure our sports facilities are more accessible to more people.

From playspace upgrades to new sports pavilions, investments like these provide high-quality and accessible places for Victorians to reap the benefits of sport and active recreation participation.

Investments like these are all about creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and fast-tracking community recovery by improving the health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Victorian communities.

Ms Addison acknowledged the City of Ballarat for its commitment and financial contribution to the projects.

For more information about infrastructure grant opportunities available through the Victorian Government visit www.sport.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison

“By investing in these new female friendly facilities at the Western Oval, we are ensuring that girls and women are welcome and included in cricket and football clubs. 

This important community asset will be of great benefit to the Redan Football Netball Club and the Brown Hill Cricket Club.”

Quotes attributable to City of Ballarat Councillor Samantha McIntosh

“The addition of female friendly amenities, an accessible public toilet and unisex changes rooms to the Oval, will bring many benefits to our community. 

This project aligns with the City’s Active Ballarat initiative and our commitment to our Active Women’s and Girls’ Strategy, both of which aim to provide safe, healthy, inclusive and sustainable environments, in which members of our community can play and live.”