Facility upgrades for women’s sport in Melbourne City

Melbourne women are joining local sports teams in record numbers. And one council will spend more than $1.5 million to improve facilities for them.

Women’s sports facilities in the inner city will receive a boost under a $1.5 million investment by the City of Melbourne.

With dozens of female teams using council ovals, money will be spent building toilets, showers and change rooms for use by women and girls.

Under the council’s new Budget, $800,000 will go on the renewal of the Brens, Ryder and Western Oval sporting pavilions in Royal Park, with construction expected to start in 2021.

A further $750,000 will be spent upgrading the Northern Sports Pavilion in Fawkner Park.

Uni Hill Amateur Football Club players Lily Ingram, Anna Theris and Angelica Vaira. Their club’s rooms will be funded. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood said the plans included upgraded change rooms and umpire facilities, improved lighting, kitchen areas, storage and social club spaces.

“We have 375 community teams using our sporting facilities each week,” he said.

“This includes 90 teams made up of women and girls, which is phenomenal growth in just a few short years.

“We’re investing in women’s and community sport to diversify our facilities to encourage even more women and girls to take marks and hit sixes.”

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University High School W Amateur Football Club player Jo Boyce said the team was excited about the upgraded facilities.

“To hear that our community sports pavilion will have female toilets, showers and change rooms is a dream come true,” she said.

“Having better facilities means we’ll be able to attract more players to our team and grow even stronger. The young girls of today will have a real pathway into AFLW now.”

The Budget also includes $450,000 to improve food handling at sporting clubs, $360,000 to renew the Princes Hill tennis courts, and $210,000 for outdoor sports equipment.

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@JMasanauskas