The head of Heathcote netball says the town’s sportspeople are in for “exciting times” after the announcement of a multi-million dollar upgrade to the club’s facilities which will bring footballers and netballers together.
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This morning, Minister for Sport John Eren announced the Victorian government would kick in $100,000 towards the development of a netball court and redevelopment of the pavilion at Barrack Reserve for the Heathcote Football Netball Club.
That announcement came after last week’s City of Greater Bendigo draft budget, which slated $1.8 million towards the final stage of the Barrack Reserve redevelopment, which would bring council’s total input to $2.42 million.
Heathcote Football Netball Club vice president Kate Lawrence said the redevelopment would bring the two codes – currently disconnected – into the one vicinity.
“We’re hoping to get the new netball court into the first stage of development and to have it ready to play on by the start of next season,” Ms Lawrence said.
“We’ll be redeveloping the entire complex, with new social rooms being built which will allow the club to host a lot more functions.
“The canteen will be shifted down to the other end of the complex, it will be more user friendly and open into the social rooms as well as onto the new netball court.”
Minister Eren said netballers were set to be the big winners with the construction of an outdoor netball court and lighting, giving teams who were sharing the tennis courts the safer and dedicated netball court they need.
“The Heathcote Football Netball Club is a thriving local institution, and its players deserve the best facilities,” the minister said.
“That’s exactly what we’re delivering.
“The best facilities inspire more players to turn to grassroots sport, and that means healthier communities and a stronger city.”
The redevelopment of the pavilion will see the upgrade and expansion of the main pavilion, adjacent change rooms and surrounding landscaping.
Bendigo mayor Rod Fyffe said the new pavilion would provide a multipurpose function room for the wider community to use.
“This redevelopment is the final and most significant project to be completed as part of the 2009 Barrack Reserve Master Plan,” Cr Fyffe said.
“Growth in local netball participation has meant the club needs two courts; this will mean juniors can use the basketball/netball court inside the pavilion while the new outdoor court would be compliant with Netball Victoria standards and be better suited to senior players.”
The Heathcote District Community Bank has also contributed $150,000 to the project and the community has raised $30,000.
Work is expected to start in August.
Joseph Hinchliffe
Council and environment reporter at the Bendigo Advertiser.
Council and environment reporter at the Bendigo Advertiser.
