Victorian Community Sport Minister Ros Spence has responded to questions about a potential upgrade to the Shepparton Sports Stadium.
On Friday, April 12, Ms Spence was in Shepparton for a surprise announcement.
Hopes were renewed that it might have something to do with Shepparton’s biggest need in community sport, an upgrade to the 50-year-old basketball stadium.
It turned out to be a new upgrade to the BMX and cycling facilities at the Shepparton Sports Precinct.
The upgrade was much needed, with a new pavilion bringing toilets to the facility for the first time and other improvements that will continue to allow the BMX and cycling clubs to host major events.
However, the community was already aware the facilities would be receiving an upgrade after the Victorian Government announced it following the Commonwealth Games cancellation last year.
Moreover, the minister and representatives from Greater Shepparton City Council all agreed that the biking facilities in Shepparton were already amazing.
Following the announcement and formalities about the upgrade at the BMX track, Ms Spence was asked whether there might be an announcement down the line regarding an upgrade to basketball facilities in Greater Shepparton.
Ms Spence said basketball courts were popular and that there were many places that needed an upgrade to existing basketball facilities.
She said the BMX upgrade was part of the “legacy of the Commonwealth Games project”.
She then said council could apply for the Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund, which council had previously stated it already had.
This grant could provide council with up to $3 million to upgrade an indoor facility in Shepparton.
The News pointed out that the upgrade to the BMX and cycling facilities cost $2 million to add a pavilion, lighting and a few other changes to what everyone had agreed was already a premier facility.
The News asked Ms Spence if she was aware of the full extent of issues the Shepparton Sports Stadium faced.
She said she was, and there was funding available federally that “council might want to explore”, and that the Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund was the most “current and relevant” funding available at the state level.
When asked about potential allocation in the upcoming budget for the project, Ms Spence said “we’ll find out about the budget on May 7”.
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