Minister briefed on macedon ranges sporting vision

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, today hosted a meeting with the Minister for Sport, John Eren, and Macedon Ranges Shire Council at the Macedon Ranges Netball Complex regarding sporting facility needs in the region.

At the meeting, Council provided a briefing to Minister Eren on their bid for state government funding for a new Regional Sports Precinct in New Gisborne.

The Precinct would provide facilities for indoor and outdoor sport from basketball and netball to football and cricket.

Land at the northern edge of Gisborne, opposite the Macedon Ranges Netball Complex, has been set aside by Council for the proposal.

Attending the briefing were also representatives from the New Gisborne Regional Sports Field and the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Hub Projects.

The demand for indoor and outdoor sports spaces has been growing in the Macedon Ranges with more than 20 AFL teams and 30 cricket teams hosted at Gardiner Reserve and a shortage of indoor courts for the more than 7,272 basketball, netball, volleyball, badminton, futsal and squash players projected by Council to 2036.

In the short term, pressure for indoor court space will be alleviated with funding allocated for a competition grade gymnasium at Gisborne Primary School in this year’s Victorian State Budget.

The Andrews Labor Government has delivered more than $1.3 billion for sport across Victoria since it came to government.

Earlier this year, as a part of the Andrews Labor Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund, $500,000 was delivered for upgrades at Gisborne Tennis Club, Gardiner Reserve in Gisborne, Barkly Square in Kyneton, Malmsbury Cricket Ground and Hepburn Recreation Reserve.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
"Families come to the Macedon Ranges in search of a healthy and active lifestyle and I want to make sure we have the facilities to cater for this demand".

"The Andrews Labor Government is a proud supporter of grassroots sport and I will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to advocate for the sports facilities we need in our region".