Ballarat will have a new home for local and professional athletes, with a new pavilion at Frank Bourke Oval.
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today joined representatives and athletes to officially open the pavilion.
This was made possible by $5 million from the Council Support Package and over $100,000 from the City of Ballarat.
Ballarat is becoming a major regional sporting hub, with the new pavilion helping more locals get involved in football and cricket while creating greater pathways for talented athletes to reach the elite level.
The pavilion features modern and accessible change rooms for players and umpires, to support greater participation for women and girls.
A new kitchen, canteen and bar will support functions and matches, alongside an improved scorer's box and a new veranda to shield spectators from the weather.
Tenant clubs, the North Ballarat Football and Netball Club and North Ballarat Cricket Club will also have more storage space for training and match equipment.
The redevelopment is part of the Ballarat Major Events Precinct upgrade, due for completion later this year.
Other works at the precinct include two new Mars Stadium grandstands, with an additional 5,000 permanent seats and improved accessibility, and the new Ballarat Regional Athletics Centre.
The upgraded precinct will boost jobs and businesses through construction and will attract more events and visitors.
The Frank Bourke Oval project supported more than 100 jobs, and is one of 27 projects across Victoria funded by the Council Support Package.
More than $50 billion has been delivered through the Carroll Labor Government over the past decade to make our regions even better places to live, work, visit and study.
As stated by Minister Rural and Regional Development Michaela Settle
"Frank Bourke Oval is a great example of how Labor is investing in the facilities regional communities need to get active - giving clubs the spaces they need to grow and helping more people take part in sport."
"These upgrades will help our talented sportspeople to get more out of their training and matches, while offering them more opportunities to take their game to the highest levels."
As stated by Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison
"I am proud to be supporting local clubs with new sporting facilities."
"This new pavilion will give local players, volunteers and families a first-class home for football and cricket. It will be a great community asset. "
As stated by City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves
"Frank Bourke Oval is an important part of what has become one of regional Victoria's most significant sporting precincts."
"This investment strengthens our capacity to host a range of state and national sporting events, creating new opportunities for Ballarat's athletes, clubs and the wider community."
