The Allan Labor Government is building more swimming pools, sporting grounds and courts and pavilions across rural and regional Victoria with grants from the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett today announced sporting clubs in St Arnaud, Dunolly, and Smythesdale will share in more than $20 million to make local facilities even better.
The Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund encourages councils, clubs and communities to work together to design the facilities their town wants, with a focus on getting more people involved regardless of their age, gender or ability.
The funding will be used to upgrade three sporting facilities across the Ripon electorate.
Deledio Recreation Reserve in Dunolly will receive $1 million to begin critical construction of a new fully compliant and female-friendly prefabricated modular sports pavilion, including four change rooms, umpires’ rooms, trainers’ room, first aid room, storage, kitchen and deck with an accessible ramp.
The Woady Yaloak Recreation Reserve in Smythesdale will receive $700,000 to begin a redevelopment of two multi-lined netball/tennis courts, including new fencing, shelters, and spectator seating for sports events.
The St Arnaud Swimming Pool will receive a massive $1.94 million to kickstart a transformative redevelopment, including an upgraded aquatic system with new hydraulics, balance tank, and filtration, new wet deck, and entry ramp to the 50 metre pool. Upgrades to changerooms and amenities will be included, with a dedicated first aid and kiosk area, and all-abilities family friendly changeroom.
The Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund builds on more than $23 million announced in the 2024-25 Victorian Budget to provide world class community sports infrastructure and initiatives that boost participation and inclusion in local sport.
From playground redevelopments to new sporting hubs, investments like these provide high-quality and accessible places for Victorians to reap the benefits of sport and active recreation. These projects are all about creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and improving the health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Victorian communities.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has invested more than $1.9 billion in community sport and recreation.
The second round of the fund is set to open later this year. For more information about the Fund and successful projects visit sport.vic.gov.au.
Quote attributable to Member for Ripon Martha Haylett
This funding will transform our much-loved local sports facilities for the future - making them modern, fit-for-purpose, and world-class for the thousands of rural and regional Victorians that use them every week.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence
“The new Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund is about making sure all Victorians – regardless of their age, gender or ability – have access to high quality sport and recreation facilities no matter where they live.”
