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Original adjournment matter from Juliana Addison MP to Parliament –

I direct my adjournment to the Minister for Community Sport, and the action that I seek is for her to provide me with an update on the Victorian government’s investment in two very important community sports facilities in my electorate of Wendouree.

The Wendouree West recreation reserve and the Alfredton Recreation Reserve are receiving much-needed upgrades for their facilities, which will be transformative for the local user groups and the entire Ballarat community. The Victorian government is investing $11.5 million to fund new community infrastructure at these two significant community sporting reserves.

The Wendouree West Reserve upgrade will provide a new community hub, a BMX pump track, three world-class soccer pitches, upgraded sports lighting and coaches boxes.

It will also incorporate a street soccer zone, a grind facility for skateboarders, synthetic cricket pitch, a new fit-for-purpose men’s shed and a ReCranked workshop. The new community hub will also incorporate a sports pavilion and a brand new community kitchen, which will provide community spaces for the Forest Rangers Soccer Club, a fantastic local soccer club; the Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre, which provides amazing things for the Wendouree community; the North Ballarat Cricket Club and the YMCA youth programs. I have no doubt that these facilities in the heart of Wendouree will be a great source of pride for the local community.

Growing up a stone’s throw from the Alfredton Recreation Reserve, I know firsthand how important this space is for the community of Alfredton and the wider Ballarat area. The Alfredton Recreation Reserve sports pavilion investment will provide female-friendly change rooms and amenities, team meeting and new social rooms, a kitchen and public toilets, along with two new locker rooms for participants. These upgrades will also provide brand new cricket nets, an outdoor undercover viewing area and decking that will boost the game day experiences for players, coaches, families and supporters.

There will be the delivery of a new netball facility at the reserve to accommodate the ever-increasing number of girls participating in netball each season. 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 will also be included in our comprehensive investment in this facility. The Ballarat Football Netball Club, the Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowls Club, and the Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club are among other user groups that share these facilities, and all agree that these improvements will be a fantastic outcome for the community for years to come.

I would like to acknowledge some of the key advocates associated with these projects with whom I have worked closely throughout the process. Marilyn Tyndall and Tracey Dean from the Forest Rangers Soccer Club have been critical to the Wendouree West Recreation Reserve project and champions of the community that surround it, and likewise, Craig Lightfoot and Craig Wilding. I thank the minister for her commitment to local sports infrastructure in the regions.

Response from the Hon. Ros Spence MP, Minister for Community Sport (20 April 2022) –

I thank the Member for Wendouree for her question and commend her on her continued advocacy for community sport in her local community.

The Andrews Labor Government has invested more than $1.1 billion in developing and improving community sport and active recreation infrastructure since 2014.

The $7 million Strengthening Wendouree Community Recreation Project at Wendouree West Recreation Reserve is on track, with construction well underway.Some components of the project are already complete, including the soccer pitches, sports field lighting, BMX pump track and skate elements.

Construction is imminent on the Men’s Shed and the Recranked Shed.  A construction site is also being established for the development of the pavilion and amenities. This extensive project has an anticipated completion date of June 2023.

The $3.7 million Alfredton Recreation Reserve Upgrade is also on track, with construction well underway. Some components are already complete, and the female friendly change rooms and amenities, umpire change rooms, kitchen/kiosk, public toilets, social space and undercover viewing area are currently under construction. This project has an anticipated completion date of August 2022.

The $700,000 Alfredton Recreation Reserve Netball Courts announced as part of the 2021/22 Victorian State Budget are also on track and are currently in the construction tender phase. A Community Joint UseAgreement for the development of a netball court on Alfredton Primary School is currently being negotiated between Council and the Department of Education and Training. Construction is anticipated to be completed in April 2023.

I thank the Member again for her ongoing support of community sporting clubs in her local area.