Ballarat families will soon be able to enjoy great local sporting facilities with Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announcing the full $3.7 million for the transformation of the Alfredton Recreation Reserve has been signed off by Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence.

With over a thousand juniors playing sport across football, netball and cricket. and numbers growing every season, an upgrade for the Alfredton Sporting Precinct is overdue.

The Andrews Government is delivering upgrades to cricket nets, the team meeting and social rooms and the outdoor undercover viewing area and decking.

Improvements will also be made to provide extra parking and storage space for clubs to keep their equipment safe, precinct fencing and a new digital scoreboard – boosting the game day experience for players, coaches and fans.

In the last three years alone, 200 women and girls have signed up to play football and netball and 4 new junior girls football teams, 6 new junior boys football teams and 10 junior netball teams have been created.

Because every player deserves equal access to equal facilities, the Victorian Government is investing in new female-friendly facilities at Alfredton Reserve, so women and girls will no longer have to change in the nearby public toilets.

A bigger, better Alfredton Sporting Precinct will benefit the Ballarat Redan Cricket Club, Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowling Club, the Ballarat Football Netball Club, as well as St Thomas Moore and Alfredton Primary Schools.

The reserve has also hosted a number of events including School Sports Victoria, U19 Victorian Girls cricket, Cricket Australia Under-15 Male National Championships and the Victorian girls school football carnival.

A number of the user groups at the Alfredton Recreation Reserve were also recipients of the Community Sport Sector Short-term Survival Package funding. Local sport clubs have been hit hard by the coronavirus shutdown and these grants are a key part of the Government’s investment in supporting the community in these challenging times.

More than 50 Ballarat clubs have so far received a $1000 grant from the Victorian Government and this support will help our clubs pay the bills and make their return to play that little bit easier.

Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“With so many young families choosing to live in Alfredton and get involved in local sport, I’m proud that we are delivering the word class facilities our young athletes deserve.” 

“We’re investing in the projects our community really needs to keep healthy, active and connected.” 

“I grew up a block from here and I know how important this upgrade is to the Alfredton community. I’m delighted that this project has now been fully funded and I can’t wait to see the transformation.”

Quote attributable to Craig Lightfoot, Vice President of Ballarat Football Netball Club

“The Ballarat Football Netball Club welcomes the investment by the Andrews Government for the people of Ballarat West and Alfredton. Missing sport this winter has shown how important community sport is to us all, and especially to our kids; we can’t wait to see the project take shape.”

Quote attributable to Cameron Bryce from Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowling Club

“This funding announcement strengthens the intention of Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowling Club to be the Western pillar of bowls in Ballarat.”

Quote attributable to Paul Aikman, President of Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to have enhanced sporting and social facilities. These improved facilities will provide the opportunity for us to attract larger regional and statewide events and competition finals.” 

Quote attributable to Shane Manley, Chairman of Alfredton Sports and Community Club

“The member sporting clubs of the Alfredton Sports and Community Club and the associated connected families are thrilled with the confirmation of this funding from the State Government. The burgeoning growth of participants in the different sports based at the Alfredton Reserve has been placing a significant strain on the resources and facilities available, so we will be forever grateful to Juliana Addison for her efforts in working with our clubs in delivering these valuable funds. We thank Juliana and the Andrews Government for recognising the importance of sports and recreation for our Alfredton community.”