Lara Sporting Club rallies troops after City of Greater Geelong funding snub

One of the region’s biggest sports hubs has rallied for support after the City of Greater Geelong didn’t allocate any further funding for stage three of a major masterplan. Here’s what they want.

Lara Baseball Club president Jarrod Fraim as works took shape. Picture: Alan Barber

One of the region’s biggest sporting clubs has rallied the troops in a bid to secure funding from the City of Greater Geelong for the third and final phase of its multimillion-dollar masterplan.

In a social media post earlier this week, the Lara Cricket Club – on behalf of the sporting club – encouraged all its followers to lodge an objection vote by May 21 after the council did not allocate any funding in its draft 2025-26 budget.

In its statement, the club said the recent GCA grand finals exposed that canteen space was “extremely limited” and badly needed an upgrade.

“The away rooms are outdated and not suitable for today’s needs, especially in terms of providing inclusive facilities for both male and female players,” the club said.

On Thursday, club general manager Brendon Chavasse told this masthead a gym component for stage three had been withdrawn, reducing the cost to approximately $2.6m.

“Our away changerooms were built somewhere in the 1960s, they are incredibly inadequate now for men’s and juniors football and cricket, let alone for women’s (sport),” Chavasse said.

“The canteen ... is not healthy for the volunteers to work in, it is incredibly hot in summer and incredibly cold in winter.

“It’s very difficult to get insured and it’s probably an OHS hazard we need to get fixed straight away.”

He said the facility, which boasted four ovals, was being increasingly used for footy and cricket regional competitions and finals and infrastructure had to keep pace.

“We can’t be a regional hub unless these home room facilities are fixed now,” he said.

“Lara West is on its way, it’s a growing township and a growing area.

“It’s frustrating when you see so much money being spent on these other already successful, on-field and off-field clubs, yet its northern clubs which kind of keep getting put to the backburner.”

Lara Baseball Club president Jarrod Fraim. Picture: Alan Barber

Local councillors endorsed a Lara Recreation Reserve masterplan in November, 2019 for the 18 hectare site, with a cost close to $20m.

Stage one involved a netball and tennis upgrade while stage two saw a new sports pavilion catering for baseball, football and cricket established, plus an extensive reconstruction of the baseball diamond.

It comes as the club made a profit of nearly $200,000 last financial year, saw a slight decline in gaming revenue to $1.97m but a 20 per cent increase in bistro revenue to nearly $770,000.

The club had a plan of setting aside at least $10,000 a month for capital investment, with a goal of $480,000 by September, 2026, a recent strategy document revealed.

It had also set a goal of completing stage three of the masterplan by next year.

Meanwhile, it was revealed at the club’s annual general meeting in November the board continued to have discussions with the council over stage three.

Lara Cricket Club won four senior premierships in 2024-25. Picture: Lara Cricket Club.

“To assist in speeding the next stage up the club has financed concept drawings which have been passed onto the council,” treasurer Brett Gillett said in the meeting’s minutes.

“(Stage two) facilities will allow our sporting clubs to provide our players with the best facilities in Geelong.”

Meanwhile, president Peter Kelly said Lara, the “biggest sporting club in the Geelong region” – with its total membership inching towards 2000 – had submitted concept plans to the council for review and potential inclusion in the 25-26 budget.

Lara Baseball Club received new facilities under stage two of a multimillion-dollar masterplan. Picture: Lara Baseball Club.

“There is still a long way to go to achieve this result, but we are confident of getting there,” Kelly said back in November.

“The club is (in) a very sound position, both structurally and financially.”

In a statement, the council’s executive director City Life, Anthony Basford, said it remained a big supporter of the club with grants over the years, including $8.925m for the masterplan alone.

“(The masterplan) is in the city’s priority projects list and we will continue working closely with the community and councillors to advocate for funding from state and federal governments,” Basford said.

“We encourage Lara Sporting Club members and other residents to review and provide feedback.”

Originally published as Lara Sporting Club rallies troops after City of Greater Geelong funding snub