Olympic Park in Heidelberg has received $4.5 million to continue works to transform the park into a multi-faceted sport and recreation precinct.

The $110 million second round of the Victorian Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program has backed 42 projects across the state, which are expected to create 600 local jobs.

Funding includes $3.9 million to fast-track the Women and Girls Sport and Wellness Centre at the Thornbury home of the Fitzroy Stars, and $2.55 million for a new multisport precinct at Gordon Street Recreation Reserve in Ararat.

There is $5 million to build three multipurpose courts at Craigieburn Sports Stadium, more than $1.6 million towards six individual lighting projects across the City of Monash, and $2.1 million for the Horsham Regional Water Play Park – the first nature and water play park to be built in the Wimmera-Southern Mallee.

Olympic Park was built to house athletes competing at the Melbourne Olympic Games and its cinder running track was used as the official athletics warm-up venue for the Games.

The venue is now the home of Heidelberg United FC, with the Victorian Government previously providing $3.5 million to upgrade the main pitch and lighting, install a MiniRoos pitch and establish a 1956 Olympics memorial garden.

The new funding will reconstruct ovals for football and cricket, upgrade the existing pavilion and refurbish the Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place, among other works. The project is expected to create dozens of full-time jobs during planning, design and construction.

The new projects follows an allocation of $10 million to deliver the second stage of the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct – including squash courts, a second oval, car park and administration space.

The $178 million Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program has backed 70 projects worth $335 million, creating more than 800 jobs. To see details of successful projects