Sports participants in Korumburra are set to benefit from a $300,000 State Government funding commitment through today’s Budget, with Upper House Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh in town to share the good news.
The money will go towards establishing a multipurpose training facility with a synthetic surface at Korumburra Recreation Reserve.
The facility to be located in the area currently occupied by disused netball courts will be used by Korumburra City Soccer Club and Korumburra Cricket Club.
Retractable nets will be ideal for cricket training, while five-a-side soccer and other training activities will also take place on the artificial surface.
New cricket nets are much needed, with the existing couple of training pitches insufficient for current demand, and the metal poles in the net structure presenting the risk of ricocheting cricket balls.
The new area will be lit for nighttime use.
President of Korumburra City Soccer Club Tony Gardner, and Glen Barrett who is Chair of Korumburra Recreation Reserve and secretary of Korumburra Cricket Club welcomed the pleasing news, both expressing their appreciation to Tom.
“It’s great to hear we’ve got the grant; it’s probably been five or six years in the planning,” Glen said.
In addition to the $300,000 State Government contribution, the soccer and cricket clubs are each chipping in $20,000 towards the project, with $30,000 from Cricket Victoria through Cricket Australia’s infrastructure fund.
“Our ambition is to make this the premier sporting community facility in South Gippsland,” Glen said of the Recreation Reserve, with the new training facility another step towards that goal.
Tom said it is great the project will benefit more than one club, noting the State Government has previously contributed to other improvements at Korumburra Recreation Reserve, investing in the change rooms and lighting upgrades.
