A NEW 4000 seat stadium will bring more jobs and tourist dollars to Bendigo, according to Premier Daniel Andrews.
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Mr Andrews was in town on Tuesday to unveil plans for the $16.5 million Bendigo Stadium upgrade.
The new facility will boast three indoor courts which will complement the stadium's seven existing indoor courts.
The centre's 12 existing outdoor netball courts will be upgraded.
The state government has committed $5 million to the expansion project. Bendigo Stadium Limited will contribute $10 million and $1.5 million will come from the City of Greater Bendigo.
Mr Andrews said the stadium would be "the very best of facilities".
He said it would help boost both Bendigo's economy and the health of its residents.
"This activity is great for physical fitness and health and keeping communities close together but it's also very important for jobs," he said.
"This will be when it's finished one of the most significant stadiums anywhere in regional Victoria and it will be somewhere we can all be very proud of.
"That means more major event, more tourists, more dollars being spent in the Bendigo economy each and every year."
Sports Minister John Eren said the stadium would help Bendigo become a "hub of sport".
"A healthy events calendar means more tourists, and that means more jobs for central Victorians," he said.
Bendigo Stadium chairman Brendon Goddard said the expansion would allow even more people to use the stadium.
"There is a waiting list for use of the courts for training and games that can't be accommodated at present," he said.
Mr Goddard said between basketball, volleyball and netball competitions and training, up to 5000 people used the stadium each week.
Bendigo Mayor Peter Cox said the stadium was "an important regional asset".
