Regional Sports Infrastructure Program – Ballarat
Ballarat sports infrastructure is set to be transformed as part of the Victorian Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.
The upgrades will strengthen Ballarat’s reputation as a regional hub for sport and major events while providing residents and community clubs more opportunities to train and play the sports they love, close to home.
Projects include:
- Ballarat Major Events Precinct upgrades
- Ballarat Sports Events Centre
- Miners Rest community sports facility.
These investments will boost tourism and local jobs while also ensuring Ballarat has strong community sporting facilities into the future.
Ballarat Major Events Precinct
Located in the northern suburbs of Wendouree, upgrades to this premier venue, including Mars Stadium, will transform the area into a major regional sporting and events hub.
Headed by Victorian-based contractors, the upgrades include:
- an additional 5,000 new permanent seats at Mars Stadium, bringing the total seating capacity to 10,000
- new and larger videoboard to provide better match day experience for fans
- additional changerooms to enable double headers and attract more events to the precinct
- new southern viewing embankment for standing room spectators
- new athletics track as part of the Ballarat Regional Athletics Centre, located on the former Ballarat Showgrounds site
- improved accessibility across the precinct and more.
Upgrades at the Ballarat Major Events Precinct are expected to be completed in late 2026.
Ballarat Sports Events Centre
Locally known as Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat Sports Events Centre upgrades will boost athletes and fans’ experience at the venue.
Delivered over 3 works packages, once completed visitors will experience:
- improved sound quality and lighting for show court events
- improved accessibility in and around the venue
- increased safety with swipe card access controls and expanded CCTV coverage
- new mobile broadcast platform for televised events
- new solar panel roof system, heating and cooling upgrades and more.
Upgrades at Ballarat Sport Events Centre are expected to be completed in late 2026.
Miners Rest Community Sport Facility
A new community sports facility is being proposed at Miners Rest.
We look forward to sharing more information about this project in the coming months.
Latest news
Additional project scope announced for Ballarat Major Events Precinct
Upgrades to elevate fans experience at games
Upgrades at Ballarat Sports Events Centre bounce forward
Ballarat's Mars Stadium upgrades ready to launch
Updates
11 December 2024 – Ballarat Major Events Precinct locks in head contractor
The Ballarat Major Events Precinct project has reached a key milestone with the appointment of a head contractor.
Victorian-based Kane Construction and Nicholson Construction Joint Venture will lead the redevelopment of the Ballarat Major Events Precinct (previously known as the Eureka Sports Precinct).
Kane and Nicholson Construction will utilise their extensive experience in delivering high quality regional and community projects, including the multi-award-winning Ballarat GovHub and the recent Bendigo Law Courts Development.
Kane and Nicholson Construction have a local presence with a Ballarat office and these upgrades will boost local jobs and businesses.
Upgrades to the precinct include 5,000 new permanent seats at Mars Stadium, increasing the seated capacity to 10,000. The new seats also mean more amenities and more food and beverage options so spectators will have an even better experience at the venue.
A new athletics track and pavilion will be located on the former Ballarat Showgrounds site, with additional elements such as lighting, landscaping and a storage shed.
Accessibility improvements throughout the precinct will ensure anyone with mobility needs can still enjoy the venues.
Construction works at Mars Stadium are set to begin in early 2025.
The Victorian Government is also supporting Ballarat’s Major Events Precinct through a $5 million upgrade of Frank Bourke Oval, backed by the Council Support Package.
8 Nov 2024 – Milestone for Ballarat Sports Events Centre
The upgrade of the Ballarat Sports Events Centre, also known as Selkirk Stadium, has hit a major milestone with the design contractor for the project now appointed.
Victorian company City Collective has been announced as the designer for the project, which will upgrade both the sporting and community facilities.
The project will create local jobs and collaborate with local Aboriginal-owned businesses and suppliers.
The Ballarat Sports Events Centre upgrade includes show court upgrades, lighting and broadcasting improvements and more – providing local teams with the facilities they need to succeed on and off the court.
The Ballarat Sports Events Centre is one of 16 projects across regional Victoria being delivered through the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program, with three in the Ballarat region.
With the support of the City of Ballarat, works are already underway at the former Ballarat Showgrounds as the Ballarat Major Events Precinct takes shape.
The new precinct will include a brand-new athletics track, better accessibility across the whole Precinct, and 5,000 new seats at Mars Stadium.
Miners Rest is also getting a new community sports facility with an oval, sports pavilion, change rooms and extra car parking.
The Regional Sports Infrastructure Program is part of the Victorian Government’s record $45 billion investment since 2014 in projects and programs that matter to regional communities – including more than $2.3 billion for sport and active recreation infrastructure across Victoria.
4 Aug 2024 – Starting gun fired for Ballarat’s new athletics track
The Victorian Government's delivery of a new athletics track for the Ballarat community is set to begin, with the rejuvenated former Ballarat Showgrounds site to house brand new sporting facilities and vibrant public spaces.
Victorian-based company Ausdecom will commence initial works within a matter of weeks.
The precinct is part of the Government’s investment in the Ballarat Sports Package, which also includes 5,000 new permanent seats for Mars Stadium (also known as Eureka Stadium).
In addition to the brand new athletics track, the community will enjoy a new spectator pavilion and seating, light towers, storage facilities and a public open space.
The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society recently vacated the site as part of its relocation to a new home in Mount Rowan.
The initial works on the former showgrounds site will include demolishing existing infrastructure to be completed by the end of 2024, preparing the land for construction of the athletics track in early 2025.
The Ballarat Major Events Precinct is one of 16 sporting infrastructure projects being rolled out across the state as part of the Victorian Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.
Three projects are being delivered across the Ballarat region, including upgrades to the Ballarat Sports Events Centre and a new community sports facility at Miners Rest.
The Ballarat projects are on track to be delivered in the next two years and are part of our commitment to deliver more of what locals have told us they need so their communities are even better places to live, work, stay and play.
12 April 2024 – Ballarat sports package kicks off
The Victorian Government is delivering world-class sporting facilities in Ballarat, with huge upgrades to infrastructure so more grassroots and elite players and fans can enjoy the sport they love, close to home.
The Ballarat Sports Package is delivering 3 projects across the city as part of the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.
Eureka Stadium is one of 15 sporting facilities across the state set to receive upgrades as part of the program. Upgrades include 5,000 new permanent seats, a new athletics track, and better accessibility across the Eureka Precinct.
The Ballarat Sports Package will boost local jobs, businesses and attract more visitors to the Ballarat region with works set to begin later this year. The Expression of Interest for a Head Contractor to deliver the Eureka Precinct upgrades has also been released.
Across the region, the growing suburb of Miners Rest will also receive a new community sports facility to make sure more people can play the sport they love close to home. The new facility will feature a competition-grade oval, sports pavilion with car parking, amenities, and change rooms.
The Ballarat Sports Events Centre will get court upgrades, broadcast and lighting updates, and improved accessibility, so local teams have the facilities they need to succeed on and off the court.
Sports clubs are at the heart of so many regional communities. That’s why we’re supporting more players, teams and communities with the facilities they deserve.
Further updates on the projects will be provided in the coming months.