Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Thomas Prince and Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters today officially opened the redeveloped Golden Square Recreation Reserve pavilion.
The pavilion now boasts new female friendly change rooms, new and improved kiosk and umpire change rooms, improved spectator viewing areas and minor landscaping works.
The $2.3M project was funded by $500k from the Australian Government's Investing in Our Communities grant program, $1.6M from the City of Greater Bendigo, and contributions from Golden Square Senior and Junior Football Netball Clubs and the Golden Square Cricket Club.
The redevelopment works delivered:
- Two change rooms and associated female friendly player amenities
- Netball change rooms
- First aid/massage room
- Umpires room
- Public amenities with external access
- Kiosk and kitchen upgrades
- Spectator area for viewing
- Multi-purpose room
- Storage rooms
- Completion of access paths and minor landscape works
City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Thomas Prince said the project is an investment in the future of the Golden Square Recreation Reserve.
"It's been an important project that has included a redevelopment of the existing pavilion ground floor to meet current building and accessibility standards," Cr Prince said.
"Works have included new female friendly change rooms, new and improved kiosk and umpire change rooms, improved spectator viewing areas and minor landscaping works."
Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said that it's wonderful that this project is now completed as it delivers one of her 2022 Federal Election commitments to the Golden Square FNC for female friendly change rooms.
"It's been a long road. I am so proud of the role that I have played to ensure Golden Square FNC and Golden Square Cricket Club players will now have modern change room facilities," Ms Chesters said.
"Golden Square FNC made history by introducing a first of its kind pay parity model for male and female players. Plus, their women's AFLW continues to be one of the strongest in the league. Yet, despite these on-field successes, they did not have modern change room facilities to match their player rosters and club culture.
"In partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo, the Federal Labor Government and I are delivering vital community infrastructure like the Golden Square Recreation Reserve project."
