Sport

Coalition promises $10 million for recreation centre rebuild

By James Kleeman

Nov 1, 2022

Planned funds: The Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre is the recipient of a coalition funding pledge.

Benalla’s Indoor Recreation Centre will be rebuilt should a Coalition government be elected in November, with a $10 million package announced last week.

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Liberal candidate for Euroa Brad Hearn and Nationals candidate for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland announced last week a Coalition commitment to rebuild the stadium.

The announcement comes after significant flooding at the building in recent weeks, which forced its closure.

Nationals Leader Peter Walsh also visited the centre last week to throw his support behind the rebuild.

“The space is well and truly past its use-by date and can’t cater for the community’s needs,” Mr Walsh said.

“Upgrades to the stadium will benefit a number of user groups in the community who use the space for sport and for regular meetings.

“I commend Annabelle for the work she has done leading a petition which attracted 450 signatures in just a few weeks and was tabled in Parliament.”

Discussion regarding a makeover at the centre has been the topic of discussion for a number of years, with a master plan tabled by Benalla Rural City Council in 2019.

A number of local sporting associations call the indoor recreation centre home, and Mr Hearn said the announcement of funding would reach a significant part of Benalla’s sporting community.

“Today’s announcement will provide a new home for so many country sporting clubs like the North East Bushrangers that have the power to change lives and broaden the aspirations of generations of young people,” Mr Hearn said.

“As a Benalla local I know how much this precinct redevelopment means to so many people including our local CFA volunteers and ensuring they have high quality training facilities for the next generation of community lifesavers.

“Regional Victoria can’t afford another four years of neglect, providing adequate change rooms for all sports users is essential in ensuring that we have equity and increased accessibility.

“Netballers will no longer have to change in the car before a game and the All Blacks can start recruiting their female football players of the future.”

The centre was deemed unsafe due to flooding following a council inspection last week and at the time of writing, is yet to reopen for sporting activities.