Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP has announced that three sporting venues in the Mount Alexander Shire will receive important facility funding.

Venues to receive funding are:

• $1 million for the Bill Woodfull Reserve to construct gender-neutral netball and tennis change facilities including two change rooms, two umpire change rooms, accessible toilet, administration office, first aid and storage. Accessible paths, ramped netball court connections and minor carparking work are included.
• $250,000 for the Harcourt Recreation Reserve Oval upgrade of sub-standard sports oval lighting at the Harcourt Recreation Reserve to provide a 50/100 Lux LED switchable lighting system on the sports oval.
• $30,000 for the planning of Chewton Small Sided pitch design and development which includes the development of a small format synthetic pitch at Chewton and upgrading infrastructure to support the participation growth of football in this community.
• Plus, works have finished on Bill Woodfull Reserve's Lighting Upgrade ($250,000) and new Player Shelters ($25,000).

“Congratulations to Mount Alexander Shire Council, Maldon Football Netball Club, Maldon Tennis Club, Harcourt Football Netball Club and the Mount Alexander Women’s Sports Club - this boost will go a long way to support the growing number of people in central Victoria keen to get involved in local sport and recreation," Ms Edwards said.

“It’s a great example of how the Andrews Labor Government is making sport and recreation more accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all Victorians.”

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 provided an additional $88 million to deliver new and improved community sports infrastructure and programs to boost participation in local sports clubs and organisations.

This includes continuing the flagship Local Sports Infrastructure Fund, game-changing Female Friendly Facilities Fund and the popular Country Football and Netball Program.

Since 2014, the Andrews Labor Government has invested more than $1.6 billion in community sport and recreation infrastructure.

It’s backed by the Fair Access Policy Roadmap, a Government initiative to ensure women and girls get equal access to community sport facilities across the state.

Initiatives like these are about levelling the playing field, creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and improving the health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Victorian communities.

A 2020 report by KPMG commissioned by Sport and Recreation Victoria put an annual value of $7 billion on the economic, social and health benefits of community sport and active recreation infrastructure in Victoria. For more information about the Fund and grant recipients visit sport.vic.gov.au