Page 8 The Moorabool News – 3 May, 2022
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Another step forward By Lachlan Ellis Councillors, community members and local State MPs have celebrated the next stage of upgrades at a local reserve. Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan, Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle, and Member for Melton Steve McGhie all donned hard hats and high-vis vests to mark the occasion of turning the first sod, with the State Government committing $4 million for the Stage 2 of improvements at the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Recreation Reserve (BMRRR). The $4 million funding package from the State Government’s ‘Community Sports Infrastructure and Stimulus Program’ and ‘World Game Facilities Fund’ will complement the $8.04 million Council has provided for Stage 2. Mayor Cr Sullivan was joined in thanking the State Government for its contribution by Bacchus Marsh Cricket Club President David Kraljik, and Bacchus Marsh Soccer Club President Liam Kiely. “The development of this particular precinct has been underway for some time, and we’re now working towards a completion of the project in mid-2023. This bears the fruit of all the hard work done in this collaboration [between Council and the State Government],” Cr Sullivan said. “On behalf of the Cricket Club, I’d like to thank the Victorian Government and Moorabool Shire Council. It’s a fantastic development, Liam and I have been talking about it for a good while, it’s well overdue in the Shire. What we see as being particularly fantastic is having three ovals to be able to use for playing and training on Saturdays and Sundays, all lit as well,” Mr Kraljik said. “For us, it’s about creating a home for our club – we’ve been spread out across the Shire since the inception of the club ten years ago. This year is the first year we’ve had everyone training here, and the atmosphere at the club is great,” Mr Kiely added. Ms Settle said she was proud to help provide funding for the project, with grassroots sporting clubs such as the Bulls and the Scorpions forming “the heart of local communities”.
Moorabool Mayor Tom Sullivan joined with MPs Michaela Settle and Steve McGhie to turn the first sod with user group members, (L-R) Mike Fitzpatrick from TurfOne, BM Cricket Club Pres David Kraljik, BM Soccer Club Pres Liam Kiely, and BM Cricket Club players Bradley Croxford and Luca Kraljik. Photo – Lachlan Ellis “I’m delighted that we continue to fund community sport… to the Cricket Club, the Football Netball Clubs, and the Soccer Club that will use these facilities, the commitment [by the State Government and Council] is much more than money,” she said. “It’s about having great services and great facilities, so that they can really be a part of the community, and provide a place for young people to come.” Local cricket, soccer, netball, and tennis are all set to
benefit from the upgrades, which will see two permanent soccer pitches, a central cricket pitch, perimeter fencing, sport lighting, coaches’ boxes, a pavilion, a new entry road to access the new facilities, car parking for more than 300 cars, an all-abilities play space near the new pavilion, and landscape works delivered. The works will be completed by sports construction specialists TurfOne, and are expected to directly generate 11 jobs.
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