News Alert |

The City of Ballarat will become one of Australia’s first councils to strive towards female-friendly facilities in all of its sporting facilities, after securing $10 million through the Community Sports Infrastructure Loan Scheme. 

The City of Ballarat will roll out its largest ever investment in local sports infrastructure after securing a low-cost loan through the State Government’s $100 million scheme. 

A major female-led rise in sport participation has led to increased demand on the region’s sporting infrastructure. This loan enables the City of Ballarat to implement the critical infrastructure over the next two years – instead of the planned four years. 

The works will bring change facilities up to female friendly standards, improving lighting, surface and drainage issues – enabling council to increase the capacity carrying ability of sports grounds and increase access to sport and recreation opportunities. 

This multi-million-dollar boost will fast track 32 sporting infrastructure projects across 20 different clubs in 15 different sports at 18 separate venues – benefiting more than 4,500 participants. 

The City of Ballarat will contribute $6 million to the upgrades, taking the overall investment to more than $16 million. 

Key initiatives of the infrastructure funding boost include: 

A major multi-sports and community facility at Victoria Park, benefiting the Victoria Park Soccer Club, Lucas Cricket Club, Ballaarat Dog Obedience Club, active recreation and cycling  Refurbishments of the Marty Busch Recreation Reserve (home to Sebastopol Football Netball Club), Learmonth Recreation Reserve (home to Learmonth Football Netball Club) and City Oval (home to Redan Football Netball Club) – creating male and female compliant change facilities  Refurbishments at Trekardo Park (Ballarat Soccer Club) with male and female compliant change facilities for soccer and new lighting  New pitches, lighting and compliant change facilities at Royal Park (Buninyong Soccer Club)  Netball compliant change facilities at Alfredton Recreation Reserve (Ballarat Football Netball Club) and Marty Busch (Sebastopol Football Netball Club)  Major new bowls amenities for Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowling Club, and a new synthetic bowling green for Victoria Bowling Club  New lighting at Prince of Wales Park for Ballarat Hockey and resurfacing of the Ballarat Regional Tennis Centre court at Hollioake Park  Boosting active recreation pursuits, including building a new skate park at City Oval and a new play space at MR Power Park. 

The funding injection will boost sports from soccer to cricket, football, netball, bowls, ultimate frisbee, tennis, hockey, BMX, cycling, skateboarding, athletics and active recreation. 

Under the scheme, low-interest, government-guaranteed loans of between $500,000 and $10 million were available to councils, clubs, associations and educational institutions across Victoria for the delivery of infrastructure that boosts grassroots participation. 

The investment links in with the City of Ballarat’s Active Women and Girls’ Strategy, unveiled in July, to encourage female participation in sport. 

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh says the successful loan application rewards the organisation’s strategic approach to long-term planning and commitment to sporting infrastructure. 

“We are delighted that the City of Ballarat has secured the maximum amount available under the loan scheme,” she says. 

“We are proud of our strategic investment in football grounds. This $16 million overall investment enables us to go beyond this – benefiting another 15 different sports across the municipality. 

"It will ensure more people have the facilities they need to live an active and healthy lifestyle. Importantly, this infrastructure investment brings facilities and assets up to female friendly standards and will also encourage and empower more women and girls to get moving. 

“The City of Ballarat is proud to be leading the way in this field – creating a level playing field for women and girls in sport and active recreation.”