KINGSTON Council has been successful in securing state funding from the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund to help upgrade local facilities in Chelsea, Carrum and Bonbeach in the lead up to Summer.
The Victorian Government has awarded a total of $675,000 towards four exciting projects including new outdoor netball facilities in Carrum, upgrades to Chelsea Bowls Club, safety fencing at Bonbeach Sports Reserve and further improvements to change facilities for women and girls playing sport.
Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said the funding contribution was very welcome news and would allow Council to push ahead with some important upgrades to local community sports facilities.
Longbeach Ward Councillor Georgina Oxley also welcomed the funding boost. “Council has been working closely with the football, netball and cricket clubs on a $340,000 upgrade to the pavilion amenities at Chelsea Recreation Reserve which will see the change rooms refurbished into a modern female-friendly facility,” Cr Oxley said. “The $155,000 State funding contribution towards this project will help us complete those important works to ensure women and girls have equal access to our sports facilities.”
Banksia Ward Councillor Cameron Howe said the $345,000 contribution towards much-needed new netball facilities at Roy Dore Reserve in Carrum was exciting news.
“In 2023, the $9.1 million redevelopment of Roy Dore Reserve will be complete, with additional funding sought and approved for two standalone netball courts to be built in 2022,” Cr Howe said. “Our vision is to create a sporting precinct in the heart of Carrum that meets the needs of all users whether they play football, cricket, tennis or netball.”
The grant funding will also support upgrades to the Chelsea Bowls Club that will see the existing sports lights upgraded from metal halide to LED to provide the club with a superior lighting solution for their night-time pennant competition. The current synthetic green surface, which is at the end of its useful life, will also be replaced. Works will commence in November.
Bonbeach Sports Reserve will also get some upgrades with new ball protection fencing to be installed to address safety concerns at the oval and some upgrades to other equipment.
“Council is investing millions of dollars in upgrading ageing sports facilities to support local sports clubs as they work to promote active, healthy lifestyles in our community,” said Cr Staikos. We welcome any support from the Victorian government to help fund these vital community facility upgrades.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 29 September 2021