Sport
7 August, 2023
A big weekend of celebration for Carisbrook, with their $4.6 million facilities officially finished
The new multi-million dollar change rooms and hub at the Carisbrook Recreation Reserve are officially open for business, following a lavish opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon. It was a day of celebration for the Carisbrook Football Netball Club...
The new multi-million dollar change rooms and hub at the Carisbrook Recreation Reserve are officially open for business, following a lavish opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
It was a day of celebration for the Carisbrook Football Netball Club and the community as a whole, with both their senior football and netball teams taking victories over Royal Park following the opening.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett officially opened the new facilities by cutting the ribbon, joined by Central Goldfields Shire Council mayor Grace La Vella and Tullaroop Ward councillor Anna De Villiers, Carisbrook Recreation Reserve user group committee president Troy Driscoll and Carisbrook FNC representatives Carlene Dowie and Sherriden Byrne.
The upgrades have been in the works since funding was first committed in 2018, succesfully attracting a total $4.1 million from the Victorian Government, as well as a $549,800 investment by the Central Goldfields Shire Council.
The completed project includes new female friendly change rooms for players and umpires which will help support women’s football and the local Lady Redbacks teams, an accessible toilet and new first aid room, a new multipurpose room and office spaces, new car parking, resurfaced acrylic netball and tennis courts, a new show court with lighting for evening play, a new bowls pavilion and toilet block, and two new netball change rooms.
Ms Haylett said she was thrilled with the end result.
“It’s amazing to see the rooms complete. The clubs and user group has been waiting years for this. To see the facilities the clubs and the whole community deserves is really special,” she said.
“New female-friendly change facilities, breast-feeding room, multi-purpose facilities, it’s not just for the clubs here, but for the community, and really, the whole region.”
Ms Haylett said it was part of a continued commitment from the State Government to improve facilities.
“It’s a good example of a good contribution from the State Labor Government, but also council, and I want to thank the work of the Central Goldfields Shire Council and their staff who made this happen and worked closely with the community on this,” she said.
“There’s a lot going on in the sports world across Ripon, but a lot more work needs to be done, especially in this shire, as we’re several years behind, in terms of the facilities that everyone deserves here, and I’m really passionate about working with those clubs and everyone involved in those recreation reserves going forward on grants as well.”
Driscoll was impressed with how his vision of better facilities for the user group has come to life.
“I’m rapt to be honest. It’s a long-term vision, and I didn’t think it’d turn out as well as it has. It’s come up really well,” he said.
“What we’ve been fortunate with is not only getting the stage one grant of $2 million dollars, but our second grant, which we didn’t think we’d see any time soon, which allowed us to do our netball show court and the bowls pavilions. That’s allowed us to capitalise on the project.”
Driscoll said that the recruitment and retention for all clubs in the user group would be boosted going forward thanks to the ability to offer the new facilities.
“It’s hard in country football, netball, cricket and bowls to attract and retain players. Having these facilities is a massive tick and draw card. It’s been nice in the last 12 or 18 months. The clubs in various user bodies have been recruiting and can see that there’s something happening. To get to this is a dream come true,” he said.
“The ladies’ facilities prior to this, let’s face it, wasn’t up to scratch at all, but they aren’t right throughout the region to be honest. That was a big driver and motivator for us as well. It’s a large reason why we are where we are.
“But we’re stoked. You have to have good facilities to help attract people, especially young girls and their families, their parents want to see that there’s great infrastructure for their kids to play their chosen sport.”
Driscoll said it was an unbelievable effort from all involved to get the user group the facilities that will last decades.
“Trying to get a hold of $4-5 million dollars is hard to comprehend. We’ve had to plan and get the information required, and we’ll make the most of that now,” he said.
