Work on the Yarrawonga Multisport Stadium will recommence with the earlier $3.3 million commitment from the Nationals confirmed by the Albanese Labor Government.
Construction of the stadium came to a halt in late July due to financial pressures, rising costs and funding uncertainty with a change in federal governments meaning earlier funding promises came under review by the new government.
Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell confirmed the news on Tuesday saying projects were supported under the Community Development Grants program, but contracts had not been signed prior to the election caretaker period.
“The Yarrawonga community is fully behind the multisport stadium, and I am proud that it will be built with funding secured,” Mr Birrell said.
In June 2021 council received $2 million as part of the 2021 Victorian Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. Earlier that month they were also successful in securing $7 million in low interest loan funding to deliver stage one of the stadium.
In March this year, then Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum announced $3.3 million in funding was coming from the Australian Government's Community Development Grants Programme with the project value for the construction of the stadium as a whole being $9.9 million.
The construction has been jointly funded by Moira Shire Council, the Australian Government Community Development Grants Programme, and the Victorian Government Local Sports Infrastructure fund, as well as a low interest 2020-21 Community Sports Infrastructure Loan and the Yarrawonga-Mulwala Basketball Association.
Moira Shire Council CEO, Clare Keenan was pleased with the funding commitment on Monday and confirmed the recommencement to award a tender.
“We thank the community for their understanding while council awaited this confirmation and commend the prudence of councillors in not awarding this tender prior to confirmation, which would have rendered us ineligible for this funding,” Ms Keenan said.
“Last week, Mayor Mustica and I communicated to the Premier of Victoria the need for increased funding for roads, state agency ownership of the ‘orphan levees and increased funding for the Numurkah levee in the wake of the current flood events.
“We also asked for his intervention with the Federal Government to make good on the previous government’s pre-election commitment. It is a great outcome for the community who have had this in the agenda for 30 years,” Ms Keenan said.