Hume council will apply for $2.5 million from the federal government to upgrade Boardman Stadium in Sunbury, as already promised to the community.
At the 24 November council meeting, councillors voted on if they should apply for funding to upgrade the stadium, after Hawke MP Sam Rae made a funding promise to the Sunbury community to upgrade the facility ahead of the 2024 federal election.
In its report, council said these works were not planned to be undertaken by council at this time, but funding has been announced for the project.
In order to accept the funding, council will need to apply for the federal government’s Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program, before the deadline of 1 December.
Cr Jarrod Bell moved a motion that council accept the funding, and thanked the Sunbury Basketball Association and the Sunbury Netball Association for their continuous advocacy for upgrades to the stadium.
He said the upgrades are needed.
“Anyone who has spent time at Boardman knows the story. It is a tired, leaking and at capacity stadium that our community in Sunbury has simply outgrown,” he said.
“At peak times, there is effectively not a single free accessible indoor court across any council facility or school in Sunbury, Riddells Creek and Gisborne.”
Council said after discussion with the Sunbury Basketball Association, the upgrade would include the extension of the existing offices, meeting rooms and the relocation of the canteen, new entrance stairs and ramps, refurbishment of the changerooms, new internal offices above the walkway, as well as the planning for additional indoor courts in Sunbury.
Council said some of the $2.5 million can be used to undertake investigative work for indoor courts provision in Sunbury, which Cr Bell said is work council would need to fund sooner or later.
“(let’s) get on with genuine improvements at a well-worn, much-loved building,” Cr Bell said.
“Fixing the roof and fabric of the stadium, modernising the disgusting changerooms and amenities, improving accessibility, and making the space work better for players, referees, volunteers, and families who are in and out of that venue every night of the week.”
Councillors supported the motion, and will now apply for the funding, with works needing to be complete before 30 June, 2029.
