Yarrawonga Chronicle

Willett’s great Tokyo warm-ups Stadium bounces ahead with $7m boost

BY EMMA PRIOR

Construction of the Yarrawonga Multisport Stadium may begin later this year with Moira Shire Council securing $7 million in low interest loan funding to deliver stage one of the stadium.

The $7 million is a part of the Victorian Governments 2020-21 Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme to provide lowinterest, government-guaranteed loans of between $500,000 and $10 million to councils, clubs, associations, educational institutions, and facility managers to develop high-quality community sport and active recreation infrastructure.

Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica said council was still looking at further grant applications but was optimistic construction could start in the later stages of this year.

“The facility will include two multi-use courts, four unisex accessible change rooms including accessible amenities, as well as multipurpose rooms,” Cr Mustica said.

“An expansion area for an additional two courts is proposed as the town grows and there is a concept plan showing how an aquatic facility can be added to the stadium in the future.

“It will provide a fabulous venue for schools, sporting and community groups in Yarrawonga and Mulwala and complement the planned growth of the adjacent P-12 College and the existing outdoor netball courts.

“The overall scale of the building will support Yarrawonga hosting major events and conferences in the future.

“The facility will be designed as a modern and contemporary multi-use stadium that is welcoming and flexible in design to accommodate a wide range of uses.

“The vision for the new stadium will be to create a place for sport and recreation; teaching and learning; community events; and community health and wellbeing.

“We are still pursuing additional grant opportunities through the

Victorian and Federal Government and are optimistic we will have the funding mix wrapped up in the next few months so the project can move to a construction phase later this year.”

Although the funding has been approved it is yet to be endorsed by council, although that is expected to occur at their next ordinary council meeting on June 23.

Yarrawonga Mulwala Basketball Association President Amanda Wheaton said securing this low interest funding was very exciting and a great step to the construction getting underway.

“This news is absolutely fantastic for our club and also for the future of indoor sport and recreation in our town,” Ms Wheaton said.

“Once it is endorsed by council at their next council meeting, we will be celebrating!

“A multisport facility will open up so many more opportunities for sporting clubs and provide vital infrastructure for our progressive town.

“It’s so great that the need has finally been acknowledged and that we will be able to build a facility to provide for future generations. “Many, many years of campaigning, lobbying and advocating on behalf of basketball and sport in this area has finally paid off and we can’t wait to see stage one of the plans commence so we can start to utilise compliant courts and our spectators get to watch their children play in better comfort.”

In the 2021/22 draft budget it was proposed council will draw down $10.5 million in borrowings during 2021/22 financial year for the Yarrawonga Multisport Stadium and Yarrawonga Library, which are capital projects previously adopted by council.

Member for Northern Victoria, Mark Gepp who announced the seven-million-dollar grant funding said the stadium will be a great asset for the Yarrawonga Mulwala area and wider region.

“The Yarrawonga Multisport Stadium is a significant local project that will encourage more people to get out, get active and connect with the community,” Mr Gepp said.

“I look forward to seeing this project come along and the undoubted benefits it will provide.”

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence also added that these significant local projects will encourage more people to get out, get active and connect with the community.

“I look forward to seeing these projects come along and the undoubted benefits they will provide,” Ms Spence said.

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2021-06-16T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-16T07:00:00.0000000Z

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