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Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters is launching a petition calling on the federal government to invest in facilities for sporting venues.
The petition calls for the federal government to at least match the state government’s $10 million Female Friendly Facilities Fund to build or upgrade change rooms to be more inclusive of female athletes.
It also urges all levels of government to be proactive about upgrading or updating venues.
The petition will be launched during women’s football club Bendigo Thunder’s semi-final match at the Queen Elizabeth Oval today.
“We’re getting to the end of the season, and I fear because we’re not going to be using these facilities over the summer months the issue could just drop off,” Ms Chesters said.
“This is an issue that we can’t let drop. It doesn’t just affect central Victoria, it affects all of regional Victoria, if not Australia.”
Her goal is for the federal government to create its own fund to help build and upgrade facilities.
“The fact the state government has put some money on the table is a good start, but if we are genuine about women’s participation in sport the federal government should partner,” Ms Chesters said.
Meanwhile, she encouraged councils to apply for state government funding so sporting venues would be up to standard next season.
The petition can be signed electronically on Ms Chesters’ website or on a printed form at her office on the corner of Williamson and Myers streets in Bendigo.
It comes after concerned mother Cath Robertson described the facilities at the QEO, Bendigo’s premier sporting venue, as “primitive.”
Bendigo Advertiser readers ranked the QEO facilities among those they would most like to change at central Victorian sporting venues.
Albert Roy Reserve, Eaglehawk; Shadforth Park, North Bendigo; and North Bendigo Oval all rated a mention by the more than 50 respondents to the online form, as did Kangaroo Flat.