New Harcourt Pavilion to benefit local sporting clubs

New Harcourt Pavilion to benefit local sporting clubs Main Image

30 May 2022

Harcourt Lions football, netball, cricket, and tennis clubs along with the Mount Alexander Falcons (Women’s Football Club) can look forward to preparing for the big games in a new female friendly pavilion, thanks to the completion of works at Harcourt Recreation Reserve.

On Saturday 28 May Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards officially opened the new facility, made possible by over $370,000 from the Victorian Government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Up until recently, the Lion’s women’s and girls’ teams were having to resort to using an old toilet block at the ground to get changed.

Now that the Mount Alexander Falcons Women’s Football Club call Harcourt home, it is even more important to have these new changerooms and toilets.

The new pavilion is a game changer, providing the first female friendly player and umpire change rooms and amenities at the ground and comes complete with social spaces suitable for sport and community events.

It is the new headquarters for the 270-strong Lions to grow teams and host more competitions and events, with nearby Harcourt Valley Primary School also able to access the new building.

“Regional clubs and communities depend on local facilities. The new pavilion not only helps secure the future of grassroots sport but provides a boost for local groups as well," Ms Edwards said.

“It will go a long way to inspiring even more locals to join local sporting teams, with the community now having the facilities they need to welcome more women and girls, train longer, and compete.

“Better facilities make it easier for Victorians to get back into local sport and recreation and live active and healthy lifestyles.”

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 is providing a further $88 million to deliver new and improved community sports infrastructure and programs to boost participation in local sports clubs and organisations.

The latest boost brings the Victorian Government’s investment in community sport and active recreation infrastructure to more than $1.2 billion since 2014.

From playspace redevelopments to pavilion upgrades, investments like these provide high-quality and accessible places for Victorians to reap the benefits of sport and active recreation participation.

They are all about creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and fast-tracking community recovery by improving the health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Victorian communities.

Ms Edwards acknowledged the Mount Alexander Shire Council and the local community for their financial contributions to the project.

For more information about infrastructure grant opportunities available through the Victorian Government visit sport.vic.gov.au