News Alert |

The City of Ballarat is set to commence the roll out of its largest ever investment in grass-roots level soccer.

The investment, which is part of a long-term plan to improve soccer infrastructure across the municipality, will include constructing new female-friendly facilities and increasing the capacity of local venues.

The significant planning work strongly aligns with the recently launched Football Federation Victoria (FFV) State Football Strategy to 2026.

The City of Ballarat proudly supports the strategy and has been working with the Ballarat District Soccer Association to develop a plan which meets the key strategy objectives outlined for the region.

This long-term plan endorses the roll-out of priority projects over the next four years.

However, if the City of Ballarat’s application through the State Government’s $100 million Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme is successful this will fast track the roll-out over a two-year period.

The live application is to implement a critical $16 million sporting infrastructure investment over the next two years, which includes a multi-million dollar investment across many major facilities used for soccer across the municipality.

The low-cost loan, available through a special State Government Sport and Recreation program, would be repaid over 10 years and would fast track a total of 30 projects across 20 different clubs in 13 different sports at 16 separate sporting venues, benefiting more than 3,680 participants.

A number of other priority soccer projects are also subject to separate funding applications.

If all funding applications are successful, soccer in Ballarat is set to benefit from an estimated $10 million investment across seven sites, including:

Russell Square – major soccer pitch lighting upgrades Alfredton Village Green (flexible use AFL and soccer facility) – irrigation and drainage upgrades Pleasant Street – new changeroom facility and lighting upgrade St Georges Reserve – Lighting, irrigation and drainage pitch upgrades Victoria Park (community facility including soccer) changeroom, lighting and two pitch upgrades Trekardo Park – changeroom facility upgrade and lighting upgrade Wendouree West Reserve – Lighting, pitch, irrigation and drainage upgrades Royal Park Buninyong – establishment of two new pitches, lighting and changeroom facilities

The completion of these works then frees up the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility for additional growth across the region.

It also aligns directly with the City of Ballarat’s Active Women and Girls’ Strategy released in July to encourage more female participation in sport.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Mayor Daniel Moloney:

“We know participation in sport, particularly by females, is rapidly rising across our municipality and this is causing increasing demand on our sporting infrastructure – particularly soccer facilities.

“We do not want our many clubs and their members losing out because facilities cannot keep up with this positive growth, and more importantly we want our facilities to be available for everyone no matter their age, gender or ability.

“That’s why we have initiated a long-term plan to invest in the future of sport across the region, which we now know meets the objectives outlined in the Football Federation Victoria.

“As well as the roll-out of upgrades to these seven identified sites, the Sport and Acting Living team are also investigating new open spaces and soccer pitch opportunities in Delacombe and the soccer opportunities for community use of pre-existing education facilities.

“There is plenty to be excited about in this space, and we look forward to hearing whether our funding applications are successful.”