By Brendan Rees
More than a million dollars will be spent overhauling of the facilities at Casey Fields on Oval 2, if the Liberals win the November State Election.
The $1.5 million cash injection would see the Cranbourne Senior Football and Netball Club facilities upgraded including asphalting the carpark and installing a new perimeter fence.
In a major boost for female participation in sport, the new upgrade will add additional female change room facilities and shelter at the netball courts.
Improved lighting around the ground will mean teams can train outside after-hours and a new grandstand pavilion will add more comfortable and enjoyable experience for spectators.
Liberal candidate for Cranbourne Ann Marie Hermans joined members of club and the Shadow Minister for Sport Danny O’Brien on Thursday 27 September in making the announcement at the Cranbourne Turf Club.
Ms Hermans said the funding would enable the club to host events and activities in view of all the on-field action.
“I’m passionate about local sport and the benefits it brings to our young people and our community at large. This funding boost will mean so much to the teams that play on Oval 2 at Casey Fields.”
Mr O’Brien said: “Victorians love their footy, but there’s nothing fair about Dan’s deal with the AFL when the facilities here at Casey Fields are inadequate for large clubs.”
“Unlike Daniel Andrews who has decided to give the AFL a massive $225 million free kick to upgrade facilities at Etihad Stadium, the Liberal Nationals are getting behind our local sporting clubs,” he said.
Cranbourne president Gerry Kelly warmly welcomed the announcement, saying the club was “desperate.”
“We’ve got so many teams playing. We need proper change rooms in place,” he said.
“We want to make it an all-inclusive club but we can’t do that at the moment because there’s no facilities. It’s not that old it’s just not designed for senior football.”
A Government spokesperson said the State Government had provided $6.5 million to Cranbourne clubs since 2014, including a $5 million investment in facilities for women’s footy at Casey Fields.
He said sporting club grants that have kicked in $116,968 for new uniforms, coach and umpire development in Cranbourne.
