The City of Ballarat has signed an agreement with Sport and Recreation Victoria for a $921,000 grant for Eureka Stadium.
City of Ballarat Mayor Craig Fletcher said the funding formed part of the State Government’s $79m budget boost to community and high-level sport.
“The latest State budget has a real focus on supporting high level athletes as well as grassroots sport, allowing people of all ages and abilities to be involved”.
“Our Sports Precincts Strategy and Health and Wellbeing Plan are very much focused around ensuring that all City of Ballarat residents have access to high quality sport and recreation facilities and encouraging them to use these to get active”.
Mayor Fletcher said the upgrade would assist Council in working with the AFL to bring AFL games to the city.
“We are committed to continuing to work with the AFL to get games here in the near future”.
North Ballarat Football Club Chief Executive Officer Mark Patterson said the strength of the project lied in its collaborative approach between numerous stakeholders including the football club, City of Ballarat, the State Government, the AFL and AFL Victoria”.
“The investment in modern infrastructure at Eureka Stadium will have multiple positive impacts across the code throughout the region”.
“The community change rooms and facilities will provide far greater flexibility and capacity for schools and junior clubs to utilise Ballarat’s best football facility”.
“The Centre of Excellence facilities will provide an environment necessary for our best young athletes from the entire region to maximise their chances of recruitment to the AFL” said Mr Patterson.
“It will also bring our vision of attracting more AFL football to Ballarat closer as we transform this venue into Victoria’s best sports and entertainment precinct which as a result will boost the local and regional economy, increase jobs and give our community access to National, State and regional level sport”.
A number of upgrades will be undertaken with the funds including improvements to player and administration facilities at the stadium.