Two prominent Goulburn Valley sporting facilities are set to receive much-needed upgrades, with Deakin Reserve and Numurkah Showgrounds allocated funding in the 2022-23 Victorian budget.
For Shepparton’s home of sport, the government will provide $80,244 towards the Deakin Reserve Oval Screen and Scoreboards project.
This project will help bring the facility into the 21st century, with the installation of a free-standing 6.7m x 2.88m LED screen with football and cricket scoring and video capability for the oval, and the installation of a wall-mounted LED screen at the netball courts.
For Numurkah, $233,459 has been set aside for the Numurkah Showgrounds Oval Lighting project.
Set to upgrade the oval’s lighting to 100 lux, once completed the showgrounds will have AFL-standard lighting.
State Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp said initiatives such as these were about levelling the playing field, creating jobs, stimulating local economies and improving the health, wellbeing and social outcomes for Victorian communities.
“This boost will go a long way to support the growing number of people in Shepparton keen to get involved in local sport and recreation,” Gepp said.
“It’s a great example of how the Andrews Labor Government is making sport and recreation more accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all Victorians.”
Part of an additional $88 million set aside in the budget for statewide initiatives, the funding follows the recent Greater Shepparton City Council injection of $49,998 into local projects.
Council’s Our Sporting Future Funding Program includes an electronic scoreboard at Emmaus Oval, a lighting upgrade at Shepparton Golf Bowling Club and money for equipment and organisational needs.