MILDURA Council is expected to utilise a Victorian Government initiative designed to create jobs and boost the state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to find the outstanding money needed to complete the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct.
The Victorian Government recently announced a $68 million Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program which allows each local government area to submit up to three applications requesting up to $10 million for each.
Stage 1 of the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct (MSRSP) is already under way at a total cost of $31.6 million, however council has long advocated for a $10 million Victorian Government budget allocation to fund Stage 2.
Council has committed $11.1 million to the project and the Federal Government has pledged $17.5 million, however the State Government has so far chipped in $3 million.
Stage 1 of the project will see the delivery of a six-court multi-use stadium including foyer and administration area, cafe, kiosk and first-floor function room and social room, AFL-standard main oval, cricket turf wicket on the main oval and a standalone pavilion.
Stage 2 will deliver outdoor netball courts, outdoor beach volleyball, synthetic and turf wickets for cricket, sports hub administration, additional parking, squash courts and umpire viewing, additional ground-floor change rooms and social space, upgraded lighting for the main oval and a second multipurpose oval with associated lighting.
Councillors will consider endorsement of an application for $10 million through the Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program to complete the project.
If successful, council would be required to contribute a minimum of 10 per cent of any state funding through the program.
In a report to be tabled at Wednesday’s special meeting of council, community general manager Martin Hawson said the Mildura South project remained a priority for council.
Mr Hawson said that despite council’s significant investment in the project, the Victorian Government had confirmed it would still require a 10 per cent minimum financial contribution from council.
Council has also been approached by the Mildura Hockey Association and Mildura Clay Target Club which have shown interest in applying for funding through the program.
The hockey association intends to resurface the existing pitch and install a new synthetic hockey pitch, including lights, which will cater for significant overuse of the existing single pitch and provide the association with the opportunity to grow and expand its competition.
The Mildura Clay Target Club wants to complete a further stage of its redevelopment project including installation of a new shooting range and extension of a clay target curtain to meet relevant sporting guidelines to enable state and national competitions and the demolition of an existing toilet block and social rooms and installation of new facilities.
Applications for the Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program close on Friday.
