Gymnasts at RB Robson Stadium in Wallan will get a dedicated hall of their own, after the Victorian Government announced $2.5 million towards a stadium extension.
Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence announced the funding on Friday 30 October through Sport and Recreation Victoria's Community Infrastructure Program.
Why is a new hall needed?
Without a space of its own, gymnastics equipment is set up on Court 1 every Sunday night and packed away after the last class on Wednesday. With gymnastics, basketball, netball and other sports sharing the same courts, there's little room for any of them to grow.
"This is great news for everyone who has waited for a court or squeezed training into whatever time was left," Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said.
"We thank Ros Spence and the Victorian Government for backing this project. Giving gymnastics a home of its own will enable RB Robson Stadium to offer a wider range of sports and more opportunities for people of all ages to participate.
"Setting up and packing down a full gymnastics program every week takes a lot of work. A purpose-built hall will let our gymnasts focus on training and give every club more time on court."
What will the expansion include?
- Purpose-built gymnastics flooring
- Fixed equipment, including tumbling and double mini trampolines, vault, rings and bars
- Level access, an accessible toilet with baby change facilities and an upgraded entry, by reworking part of the existing building
Who will benefit?
The new hall will benefit everyone who uses the stadium. Moving gymnastics into its own space will free up more court time for basketball, netball and other sports, and allow RB Robson Stadium to offer a wider range of sports for people of all ages.
Nine out of 10 gymnasts at the stadium are women and girls, according to 2023 club records.
"Gymnastics is one of the main ways girls in our community get into sport," Cr Dougall said. "With so many girls taking up gymnastics, a purpose-built hall gives them better facilities to train and more reasons to stay in sport."
What happens next?
Mitchell Shire Council will start progressing the project to the planning stage in 2027. This will include engagement with RB Robson Stadium user groups, state sporting associations and other key stakeholders, and will prepare the project for tender for a design and construct contractor.
Council will also contribute to make sure the expansion becomes a reality, and will work with all the clubs at the stadium to get it right.
