Upgrades to female changerooms and lighting at the Ocean Grove Memorial Recreation Reserve are key features of a $750,000 Labor funding commitment, Local Federal Member, Libby Coker announced today (7 April 2022).
Ms Coker said the injection of funds would be a fantastic investment in the Ocean Grove Football Netball and Cricket Clubs, and for female and junior sport.
The Ocean Grove community has won the funding commitment ($300,000 for upgraded lighting and $450,000 upgraded clubrooms) on a needs basis.
Ms Coker said the club upgrades were vital to increasing the participation of girls, women and juniors generally.
“We have recently seen a seismic shift in sports participation as opportunities and choices open up for women and girls, and this is increasing participation in sport overall, which is a very good thing,” Ms Coker said.
“Watching the happiness and fun girls and women are getting out of playing AFL and cricket has been an absolute joy to me. I am so glad to be able to contribute funding to support this historic shift.
“Ocean Grove is a rapidly growing community on the Bellarine Peninsula, and the needs for sporting infrastructure have increased across-the-board for both boys and girls, and a lot of juniors still train and play at Memorial Reserve. The lighting and the clubrooms are currently substandard and need to be upgraded to meet current standards.
“This is about strengthening local club infrastructure to increase participation. We want more local adults and children keeping fit and engaged in the local community by playing sport.”
Ms Coker also urged the City of Greater Geelong to reverse their policy on sports lighting.
“I note the City has a current position that clubs should pay for sports lighting themselves. This policy, which is finally now under review, is ridiculous and needs to be reversed," she said.
"Sports lighting infrastructure is simply beyond the financial means of clubs but it is absolutely essential to participation. Without lighting you can’t train in winter sports.”
