By Jed Lanyon
Three Yarra Ranges sporting grounds have received a major boost in funding after Federal Member for Casey Tony Smith announced $3 million for sporting facilities on Tuesday 26 March.
Wandin North Reserve, Mount Evelyn Football Ground and Kimberley Reserve in Chirnside Park will each receive $1 million from the federal government.
This funding will assist Wandin and Mount Evelyn in constructing a new community pavilion, while Kimberley Reserve will receive essential oval upgrades and lighting upgrades.
The construction of an additional netball court in Wandin will cater for the increase in female participation.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Tony Stevenson welcomed the announcement, which he said would completely fund two of the projects.
“The changing rooms at Mount Evelyn and Wandin North will be able to be used by both genders and will be fully compliant to Australian disability standards with full wheelchair access and access for other special needs such as sight issues, and by providing ambulant toilets with hand rails for people with mobility issues,” Cr Stevenson said.
“Children and adults of all ages, genders and people of all abilities will be able to use the facilities.
“The clubs will be able to promote their female teams more widely now that more inclusive facilities are on the way, and start promoting the smaller junior teams that may have been mixed before,” he said.
Wandin Football Netball Club president Mick Fowkes was excited to see construction work get started.
“We plan to play all our home games by the end of July, both juniors and seniors. Then we can just find somewhere to train and they can start work, so it gives them six or seven months,” he said.
“Hopefully it’ll be knocked down in August and ready to use from the start of next season. It will be amazing once it’s done.
“It will turn from one building into two buildings… There’s a beautiful family courtyard area that’s going to back onto the new netball court… The whole hill (will be) landscaped with a roof over the top,” Mr Fowkes said.
Mr Smith said, “All three facilities will be an invaluable resource, providing social and meeting spaces for local sporting and community groups.”
