Elsie Lange
Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club netball co-ordinator Kellie Duff said to have scored nearly $1 million in funding for upgrades at their home ground, Gilbert Gordon Oval, was “absolutely amazing”.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas announced last weekend the Hawks would receive $985,710 to go towards the Woodend Netball Court Development, through the state government’s Local Sport Infrastructure Fund.
“We’ve been working towards this for a number of years and it’s so good just to finally have funding to be able to give the netball players and our club the opportunity to play on some fantastic facilities,” Ms Duff said.
“We’re going from having the worst playing facilities in the league to having the best.”
The funding will help in the construction of two compliant competition netball courts, with pedestrian circulation space and connecting pathways, lighting, scorer and players shelter, spectator shelter and seating, storage, electronic scoreboards and community facilities such as a water fountain.
Mayor Jennifer Anderson said the upgrades would mean better conditions for netball, and would encourage greater participation in the sport across the community.
“Training and competition will be able to occur throughout the year and not be impacted by the weather as it has been for so long,” Cr Anderson said.
Council will contribute $330,000 to the project, and the WHFNC will put in $30,000.
The draft master plan for the entire Gilbert Gordon Oval precinct is open for public feedback until November 14.
Council said it is also developing a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the proposed netball facilities site to ensure the location and design do not impact Dja Dja Wurrung cultural heritage.
The government also announced council would receive $30,000 through the same fund for redevelopment planning of Dixon Field’s soccer field number two.
Ms Thomas congratulated the Hawks and council, and said the boost would “go a long way to support the growing number of people in Macedon keen to get involved in local sport and recreation”.
