New Gisborne sports precinct a field of dreams as project misses out on federal cash
CONGESTION is an issue in the AFL and also in Gisborne as ovals are clogged by teams bursting at the seams with players. And it looks set to continue.
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SPORT will continue to feel the squeeze in Gisborne after the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct was overlooked in almost $4 million worth of funding.
Successful projects in round two of the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund were confirmed earlier this month.
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The Leader reported in June that AFL Victoria had become the first financial backer of the $42.2 million precinct outside of the council.
The $100,000 commitment was a small but significant milestone for the project.
Precinct group member Helen Sankey said there was yet to be official confirmation on the federal application.
“We are waiting for something official and what’s the plan now in respect to this application,” she said.
“If the funding hasn’t materialised, now our focus really turns to lobbying politicians and their parties ahead of the state election certainly, and maybe federally.” McEwen federal Labor MP Rob Mitchell said young families would be hurting the most by the setback.
Mr Mitchell said with only one full sized AFL oval in Gisborne and Riddells Creek respectively and as growth in both centres ramped up the pressure on facilities would only mount.
“During the last election campaign, I received a petition from over 1000 members of the Macedon Ranges community, signed in just two weeks, asking for Commonwealth support to make this $11.52 million project a reality,” he said.
It was better news for the Riddells Creek Tennis Club and Kyneton Saleyards who both won federal cash from the fund.
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