Two local projects picked for funding

Upgrading the Willaura tennis and netball courts into a multipurpose, all-season facility and fixing the basketball court and scoreboard at the Ararat Fitness Centre are two of 237 project ideas from across Victoria chosen to share in $30 million in community grant funding through Pick My Project.

Cr Allgood said both projects would have a big impact on the community, with the Ararat Fitness Centre receiving $192,000 and Willaura upgrade to benefit with $129,000.

“I am so pleased to see two very worthy projects receiving a boost thanks to the State Government through the Pick My Project funding,” she said.

“The Ararat Basketball Association delivers basketball and futsal competitions for our community. There are currently 475 members who are mostly school aged children and use the stadium at the Ararat Fitness Centre on a daily basis.”

“This funding will help replace the existing flooring on Court 1 including new sub-structure, flooring, sanding, varnish and polishing. The project will also repair the existing grandstand and replace the scoreboard on court 1 which is no longer working properly.”

Cr Allgood also congratulated the Willaura Tennis Club and the Moyston Willaura Football Netball Club for their successful project.

“The new surface will provide a safer playing environment for players, umpires, officials and volunteers,” she said.

“Currently both the tennis and netball court surfaces at Willaura are cracking and in need of repair, so to combine this into one multi-use facility will reduce ongoing maintenance costs for both the users, as well as open it up to the general public for recreation use all year round.”

During the five-week voting period, more than 95,000 Victorians cast votes for their favourite project ideas in their local community. The Willaura Court project received 189 votes and the Ararat Fitness Centre basketball courts was next best in the region with 182 votes.

The $30 million funding has been divided between the six metropolitan and nine regional partnership areas.

All successful projects can be viewed at pickmyproject.vic.gov.au.