Football and netball have been given a boost in the Ballarat district with the Andrews Labor Government announcing funding to develop drainage and irrigation at Alfredton Reserve Village Green in West Ballarat and to resurface the netball courts at Ballan Reserve.
Visiting both venues today, Minister for Sport John Eren announced $100,000 for the Alfredton Reserve Village Green project and $50,000 towards court upgrades at Ballan from the Labor Government’s 2018/19 Country Football and Netball Program.
Alfredton Reserve is used during the winter season by the Ballarat Swans Junior Football Netball Club and the Ballarat Storm Junior Football Netball Club.
The West Ballarat area has been growing rapidly in recent years and both clubs are at capacity, however the poor state of the oval has forced the clubs to seek extra training areas to avoid destroying the playing surface.
The funding will enable new drainage and a modern irrigation system to be installed which will help keep the ground in top condition all year round.
Ballan Reserve is home to the Ballan Blues Football and Netball Club, and the Ballan and District Netball Association, and is used by the local tennis club during summer.
The club has seen growing interest in recent years, however the poor state of the courts and lack of lighting have stopped the club reaching its full potential.
The funding will enable the netball courts to be upgraded and resurfaced, and competition LED lighting to be installed.
The Labor Government’s Country Football and Netball Program is a partnership with the AFL, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria to help football and netball clubs across the state deliver high quality facilities.
In three years the program has invested $9.7 million supporting more than 100 projects across regional and rural Victoria with 25 projects in this round alone.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport John Eren
“This round of Country Football and Netball Program grants will go a long way to catering for the growing number of people keen to get involved in grassroots sport and help them stay fit and healthy.”
“Netball and footy clubs are the heart and soul of our communities, they unfortunately struggle with run-down venues meaning they lose their home ground advantage.”
Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard
“We’re making sure that all clubs and players in Victoria have high quality facilities that are safe and enjoyable, no matter where they live.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020