Federal cash bid to make New Gisborne Regional Sports Field a reality
KEY players have stepped up their push to give the $11.5 million New Gisborne Regional Sports Fields project a kick-start.
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KEY players have stepped up their push to get the $11.5 million New Gisborne Regional Sports Fields project up and running.
The site on the corner of Baringo and Hamilton roads in New Gisborne was bought by Macedon Ranges Council for $800,000 in 2015 to develop two ovals, cricket nets, a central pavilion, playground and parking.
It is opposite the new Macedon Ranges Netball Complex and close to the Gisborne train station, and Holy Cross primary, New Gisborne primary and Gisborne Montessori schools.
The council has committed $1.1 million overall to the project, which is expected to cost $11.5 million. Up to $8.8 million is being sought in Federal Government funding.
NGRSF working group leader Helen Gray said they had been lobbying federal candidates in the seat of McEwen in the hope of securing election promises.
She said she was delighted with the reaction to a Facebook page revealing the concept plan and video, which has had 1100 likes in just four days. Ms Gray urged Macedon Ranges residents, club members and supporters to get behind the push.
“We ask our community, parents and friends to actively support this project and the benefits it will provide,” Ms Gray said.
“This facility will provide the Macedon Ranges and wider district with a new regional sports precinct and complement the Macedon Ranges Netball Complex close by.”
She said one of the ovals was earmarked to have a synthetic surface, which had been approved by the AFL and Cricket Australia and would also be suitable for soccer, school sports and athletics in any weather.
Stakeholders for the project are the Gisborne Masters, Gisborne Giants and Gisborne Rookies football clubs, along with the Gisborne Football Netball Club and Gisborne Cricket Club.
Gisborne Cricket Club vice-president Brett Vernon said they had about 300 members among one women’s, seven senior and 15 junior teams and were “bursting at the seams”.
He said although based at Gardiner and Sankey reserves, they also had to use Dixon Field in Gisborne, an oval in Bullengarook and more recently a pitch at Holy Cross Primary School.
“With the growth our club is currently experiencing, it is of huge importance that we have this facility built as soon as possible to be able to cope with the now, and also the projected growth going forward,” he said.
“It’s impossible to imagine how we would cope if this facility was not constructed.”
Brad Young from the Gisborne Giants said his club played and trained on Sankey Reserve and occasionally on Gardiner Reserve.
“Due to larger numbers playing football and other codes in the community, the impact on ground surface and training means we often are limited to occasions we can train midweek and having to schedule late Sunday afternoon games often compromised by levels of lighting,” he said.
Mr Young said the Giants started this season with three teams containing 70 children and by 2020 anticipated seven football teams and three netball sides.
“The new facility will enable growth for not only the Giants, it will complement the growing demand for girls football and netball of which we plan to develop in the future,” he said.
Macedon Ranges mayor Graham Hackett said the New Gisborne Regional Sports Fields concept was one of the council’s current priority projects.
“In the Gisborne, New Gisborne and surrounding areas there is a need for additional sporting fields to keep up with demand into the future,” he said.
Cr Hackett said without a major financial contribution from the other levels of government, the project would be unlikely to be finished within 10 years.
“Council and its community are seeking support from other levels of government to fast track the development of these facilities through a funding commitment,” he said.
“Sporting clubs and the local community have been very excited about the project and have been working with council to help bring it to fruition.
“We appreciate their enthusiasm and encourage everyone in the wider community to get behind this exciting and much-needed development.”
McEwen federal Labor MP Rob Mitchell said he was happy to support the push for funding and had “met as recently as last week with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council to discuss this proposal”.
Liberal candidate for McEwen, Chris Jermyn, said he had met community leaders and vowed to “fight for this worthwhile project”.
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