More community sports facilities for Victorians to enjoy

Arena Recreation Reserve in Roxburgh Park is one of 40 new projects that will benefit from the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund – giving more Victorians access to modern sports facilities.

The project at Arena Recreation Reserve will help the Roxburgh Park United Soccer Club host more training and night competitions so that more players can get their start on the pitch, with an investment of $112,000 to install new lighting.

Roxburgh Park United Soccer Club President Ayad Botres said, ‘These new lighting upgrades will provide a significant boost to our club. With the demand for soccer higher than ever, the improved lighting enables us to extend our hours of play and training, granting more individuals access to enjoy the beautiful game.’

The latest round of funding also includes $220,000 to replace the ageing club rooms at JK Grant Reserve in Altona with a bigger and better pavilion at the home of the Altona Hockey Club while a $300,000 investment in East Bairnsdale will build a new play space at Hoddinott Reserve featuring new equipment and spaces for families to get active.

The Victorian Budget 2024/25 is also investing more than $23 million to provide new and improved community sports infrastructure and initiatives that boost participation and inclusion in local sports clubs.

This investment includes $5 million to continue the 2024/25 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund which is part of more than $1.9 billion invested in community sport and recreation infrastructure since 2014.

These investments are backed by the Fair Access Policy Roadmap – a Labor Government initiative ensuring women and girls get equal access to community sport facilities across the state.

Initiatives like these are also about inclusion, fair play, creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and improving the health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Victorian communities.

For more information about the fund and successful projects visit Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.