Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund supports the development of community sports infrastructure across three funding streams: community facilities, community sports lighting and planning.
The program works by matching every $1 contributed by a regional or rural council with a $3 contribution from the state government.
Under the community facilities stream, council has applied for a multipurpose court and cricket nets project at Chittick Park.
The project is worth a total of $800,000, and council has allocated $300,000 in borrowings for the project, if the grant is successful.
Council’s second application, under the community sports lighting stream, is a $400,000 sports oval lighting project at Chittick Park.
Council has allocated a contribution of $150,000 in borrowings for this project.
Finally, council has endorsed a grant application under the planning stream for a $50,000 play space planning project, for play spaces across the shire, with a contribution of $12,500 in borrowings.
In a meeting on Monday, July 20, councillors voted to endorse the applications.
The majority of councillors agreed that the Chittick Park projects were long overdue.
“These projects will provide real benefits to the Seymour community if the funding applications are successful. They are much needed upgrades,” deputy mayor Timothy Hanson said.
The applications were endorsed, with Bob Humm the only councillor voting against.
Cr Humm said he found it difficult to support the applications because facilities in the central ward needed more attention.
“The centre has some youth who haven’t got the opportunity to go and train on their own grounds ... they actually play their games away from home because there isn’t enough room on their grounds,” he said.
Despite agreeing there were “shortfalls” in the centre, Cr Nathan Clarke said the upgrades at Chittick Park were more urgent, and planning for Kilmore was “for the future”.
Cr Andrea Pace said the facilities at Chittick Park were dated and the grant program would significantly improve the local grounds.
“This is work that is desperately needed at Chittick Park. Some of the equipment is not up to standard and can’t be used,” Cr Pace said.
“If successful, these grants will help open up that precinct totally and take some of the pressure off Kings Park.”
For more information on the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund, visit sport.vic.gov.au/funding/local-sports-infrastructure-fund
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