Growing Suburbs fund delivers $2 million for Bellbird Park Pavilion

Published on 19 April 2021

The Drouin community can look forward to a new multi-use pavilion at Bellbird Park thanks to a $2 million funding boost from the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund.

Council welcomed the announcement by Local Government Minister Shaun Leane, which will allow the $4 million project to move ahead to the construction stage within the next year.

The Growing Suburbs fund helps Melbourne’s rapidly developing interface and peri-urban councils deliver high-quality facilities for their communities.

The new pavilion will be a home for the thriving local sports based at Bellbird Park, including the West Gippsland Hockey Association, the Drouin Cricket Club and Drouin Dragons Soccer Club.

Designed as a multipurpose facility, the pavilion will also be equipped to host community events with kitchen facilities, barbecues and a playground.

This is the second round of Growing Suburbs Fund support for Baw Baw Shire Council, after the popular fund was expanded to peri-urban councils last year. Council also received $500,000 in funding to expand the Longwarry Early Learning Centre in 2020.

The Bellbird Park Multi-use Pavilion project will be delivered as part of Council’s plan to create community hub spaces in Drouin, which also includes the refurbishment of the Drouin Senior Citizen’s Hall.

 "This grant is a great outcome for both Drouin and Baw Baw Shire as a whole. Council very much appreciates the support of the Victorian Government through the Growing Suburbs Fund. The Growing Suburbs Fund is designed to assist Councils who are growing as a result of big population shifts. The Government have recognised the need for grants to assist us.

"The Grant will allow Council to fast track this much needed project. The funding of this project will also allow other projects to move closer to eventual funding.

Baw Baw Shire is the fastest growing regional Council in Victoria and we will continue to advocate strongly for more infrastructure grants to provide the facilities our Ratepayers are calling for."