The Andrews Labor Government is backing more locals to get involved in community sport at Wendouree West Recreation Reserve and nearby Victoria Park, with new facilities boosting sports from skateboarding to soccer.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence was today joined by Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, Wendouree’s Forest Rangers and Victoria Park Vultures soccer clubs to officially open the new infrastructure at both venues, made possible by a $7.5 million investment from the Labor Government.

With around 1,200 participants playing soccer in the Ballarat area, community sport is booming at popular local sport hubs like these.

At Wendouree West Recreation Reserve, the new facilities include a female friendly pavilion, a new community hub for the Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre and Ballarat YMCA Youth Programs and a community kitchen. The facilities also include a Men’s Shed, a ReCranked Youth Shed, Skate and BMX facilities and a street soccer zone.

The three new soccer pitches are a welcome boost for the Forest Rangers Soccer Club, which will now have more room to train and host big games and tournaments with larger crowds. A new synthetic cricket wicket will provide a home competition and training venue for the growing local cricket side, the North Ballarat Cricket Club.

At Victoria Park, the new pavilion features home and away female friendly change rooms as well as an office space, storage, community kitchen and canteen, umpires change rooms, publicly accessible toilets, spectator seating, walking paths and landscaping.

The pavilion is the home base for the 140 players of the Victoria Park Soccer Club, and available to the Lucas Cricket Club over summer, as well as community groups and nearby schools.

The Government has funded $7 million through the Local Sports Grants initiative for the Wendouree West Recreation Reserve and $500,000 from the World Games Facilities Fund for the new Victoria Park pavilion.

Since 2014, more than $1.6 billion has been invested in community sport infrastructure across Victoria.

Ballarat City Council also contributed funding to these projects. For more information about the program and successful projects go to sport.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence

“With grassroots winter sports back and growing in participation, more than ever clubs like the Rangers and Victoria Park SC need quality facilities they can depend on.”

“These new facilities will go a long way to inspiring more locals to join in the fun at the local football or cricket club.”

Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“The Andrews Labor Government is proud to deliver this transformative upgrade of the Wendouree West Recreation Reserve, which will provide the community with the facilities they deserve. This is a passion project for me and emblematic of our Labor Government’s support for the people of Wendouree.”