Budget kicks goals for sport, recreation and open spaces

Budget kicks goals for sport, recreation and open spaces

Published on 18 July 2019

Council is delivering on recreation and open spaces for our community with a strong focus on new and improved facilities in the recently adopted 2019/20 Annual Budget.

Extensive public consultation – including 248 resident submissions – identified sport, recreation and family/pet-friendly open spaces as key priorities for the community.

Of the $29.6 million allocated towards Capital Works Projects for 2019/20, a large portion will be invested in planning, design and delivery of critical sport, recreation and open space projects.

Over the next year, Council will deliver:

$1.7 million for female friendly pavilions at Darnum, Buln Buln and Hallora Recreation Reserves. $1.2 million towards a major upgrade of Drouin’s Civic Park. $0.7 million for upgrades to the oval at Neerim South Recreation Reserve. $0.6 million for upgrades to four netball courts at Drouin Recreation Reserve. $0.5 million for sports field and hard surface replacement/renewal. $0.2 million for new sports and playground, skate and BMX equipment and open space furniture replacement. $0.2 million towards the new Placemaking Program benefiting a number of smaller townships. $0.2 million to progress key actions from the draft Community Hubs Strategy. $0.1 million towards replacing the dosing system at Rawson Swimming Pool. $0.1 million towards new fenced dog parks for Drouin, Warragul and Trafalgar.

With the community growing, Council is also forward planning for major intergenerational recreation projects to be delivered over the next 10 years. Investments are being made this year towards planning and design works for the following major projects:

New indoor stadiums in Warragul and Drouin ($0.3 million). A multi-use facility at Trafalgar Recreation Reserve ($0.1 million). Recreation and open space design ($0.1 million).

Council’s keen focus and investment in recreation is aligned with the strategic framework set by the six recently adopted Recreation Master Plan Reviews. These documents identify both short and long-term priority projects at the Baw Baw Equestrian Centre and Recreation Reserves at Warragul, Drouin, Trafalgar, Yarragon (Dowton Park), Athlone, Buln Buln, Ellinbank, Hallora, Jindivick, Neerim South and Rawson.

To view details of this year’s full program of recreation, open space and other major infrastructure projects please visit Council’s Capital Works Program webpage.

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Mikaela Power

“Through the two-phase public consultation and budget submission process, we learned that the two highest priorities for our community are recreation reserves and community infrastructure. We’ve listened and have responded with a robust budget and ample investment into these facilities including ovals, netball courts, female-friendly pavilions, skate and BXM, parks, playgrounds and fenced dog parks.”

“Sport, recreation, parks and open spaces play a huge role in our Shire’s liveability and are a big part of why Baw Baw is such an attractive place to call home. It’s now our job to deliver for our ratepayers and residents and we’re looking forward to getting on with the job and making Baw Baw an even better place to live.”

Quotes attributable to Deputy Mayor Cr Danny Goss

“Our intent as a Council is to find the best balance between delivering projects that meet the needs and demands of today, and also plan sufficiently for the growing needs of tomorrow and beyond. With our population expected to rise above 70,000 by 2030, we’re starting critical planning and design works now so in the future we can deliver key strategic projects like new indoor stadiums in Warragul and Drouin, new sporting facilities at Trafalgar and other improved open spaces across the Shire.”