Four key projects receive funding boost

Four important projects in Mitchell Shire have received funding from the Victorian Government’s 2021/22 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence and Member for McEwan Rob Mitchell were at Wallan Secondary College to make the announcement on Thursday 19 May.

Wallan Secondary College Pavilion Project – $800,000 project will receive $533,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Female Friendly Facilities Stream and $267,000 from Mitchell Shire Council.

This project will deliver a new pavilion for Wallan Secondary College with two unisex change rooms, two umpire rooms, accessible public toilet, kiosk and storage.

Delivery of this project will further activate this site for community sporting club use. Currently players, coaches and spectators must walk several hundred metres to a public toilet block.

A strong working relationship between Mitchell Shire Council and Wallan Secondary College resulted in a joint use agreement that makes the facility more accessible.

The Wallan Secondary College oval will play a key role in supporting growing demand for football and cricket in Wallan and southern Mitchell.

There are currently only two other Council managed sportsgrounds in the rapidly growing townships of Wallan and Beveridge at Greenhill Reserve, which are already at capacity.

Kings Park Riding Develops Abilities Facility Improvements – $250,000 project will receive $167,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Community Facilities Stream and $83,000 from Mitchell Shire Council.

Riding Develops Ability (RDA) groups give people of all abilities the opportunity to participate in horse riding programs catering to their specific needs.

This unique and valuable service helps develop skills, confidence and relationships for participants, volunteers and their families.

This project will deliver a range of facility improvements for Seymour RDA including installation of a roof over the outdoor arena to improve scheduling and participation opportunities

An accessible toilet will also be installed at the club rooms for participants while using the facility. There is currently no toilet at this facility, with people having to walk a significant distance across roads to access public toilets.

Seymour Tennis Complex Lighting Project – $226,000 project will receive $151,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Community Sports Lighting Stream and $75,000 from Mitchell Shire Council.

This project will deliver competition standard LED lighting system for four currently unlit courts at the Seymour Tennis Complex.

Delivery of this project will mean all eight courts at the site are lit and will greatly improve participation and scheduling opportunities for night tennis.

Mitchell Open Space Strategy – $70,000 project will receive $30,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Planning Stream and $40,000 from Mitchell Shire Council.

This project will see development of a new Council Open Space Strategy to better address changing growth patterns and community needs in Mitchell.

The project will audit the open space network, identify open space gaps, needs and other issues.

This strategy will further enable Council to deliver improved public parks, active open space reserves, recreation and play improvements to provide for changing communities.

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