By Marcus Uhe
Tooradin Recreation Reserve saw their Senior Men’s side win the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition this year and come November the facility is likely to experience another kind of victory.
The ground has now received a funding commitment from both the Coalition and Labor, should either of the major parties win government win at the state election, following the LNP’s funding commitment announced on Tuesday 8 November.
They announced $2.2 million would be allocated to the facility, delivering an updated netball pavilion, a resurface of the gravel car park and lighting upgrades.
It marginally trumps Labor’s announcement from October, who pledged $2.15 million for the development of the pavilion and the delivery of a skate park at the reserve.
Shadow Minister for Sport, Cindy McLeish, said the recreation reserve would be revamped to be a place the community could gather for sport and social events.
“Grounds like the Tooradin Recreation Reserve not only host local football and cricket games but also a number of key community events,” Ms McLeish said.
“That is why it is so important we invest in good facilities to not only attract players, but also to give our smaller communities a place to come together.”
Liberal candidate for Bass, Aaron Brown, said local sport needed to be well-supported.
“Smaller clubs and towns don’t have the same ability as bigger clubs to get people through the gates, by investing in these clubs, we are giving back to the community and helping to drive sport in the regions,” Mr Brown said.
The Nationals candidate for Bass, Brett Tessari, said the funding would go a long way to lifting the facility to the level the Tooradin township deserves.
“This funding is well overdue, volunteers do what they can, but sometimes even their efforts need some help and it is exciting that I can be part of that with this commitment today,” Mr Tessari said.
