Covid-recovery stimulus funding of $2.75 million for sports centres in Greater Dandenong has seen the State Government utilise $1.75 million of this package towards Ross Reserve, home to Springvale City SC and Sandown Lions FC.
Previously in April, the Frankston City Council funded upgrades to sport and recreation, where the Peninsula Strikers Junior Football Club benefited from. Now the cash splash by the State Government have made its way to Noble Park.
The crusade of bringing community sport to a higher standard is evident from the plans shared by the City of Greater Dandenong, where the funding to Ross Reserve will install a synthetic soccer pitch, 200-lux floodlighting for the pitch and landscaping, two coaches’ boxes with an additional technical box and perimeter fencing.
The City of Greater Dandenong will contribute $616,000 to the cause, with the remaining of the State Government package to be put towards upgrading the tennis courts of the Burden Park Tennis Club.
“This is a massive win for the Ross Reserve precinct and Noble Park – and builds on the other infrastructure projects that are currently underway including the New Sports Pavilion, the new All Abilities Playground and the new Health and Wellbeing Centre at the Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC),” South Eastern Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis said, chair of the Noble Park Revitalisation Board.
“These important projects will deliver state-of-the-art facilities for our local community and for existing and future members of the clubs that use them for decades to come – as well as create local jobs in the short term.”
This is welcoming news as it comes from the back of the genesis of the Ross Reserve project in September 2020. The announcement of that time included a premium community standard sports pavilion that provides female and junior friendly facilities that would cater for Football Victoria, AFL and Cricket Victoria standards, an oval extension and a jogging/tank track.
Other infrastructures undergoing development at the reserve is an All-Abilities playground and streetscaping on Douglas Street, Noble Park, that the council have received a budget of $500,000 to get it up and running.
“We are thrilled to receive this funding which will have lasting benefits for the health of our community through new and improved sports facilities,” Greater Dandenong mayor Angela Long said.
“There is significant work underway throughout our city, and in particular through the work of our Noble Park Revitalisation Board.”
The projected finish of construction was originally tabled towards the end of 2021, but with additional funding towards new project works at Ross Reserve, it remains unclear. However, what is certain is the enhancement of the healthy local derby between the two football clubs while taking full advantage of the facility investments provided by the State Government.
