The community and sporting clubs of Emerald welcomed the opening of a new $729,000 sports pavilion on Saturday 18 March.
The new pavilion includes a large function area, kitchen and amenities.
Much of the funding has come through the Liberal Government’s $500,000 commitment to the facilities, through which it is hoped to increase participation in netball, cricket and tennis.
Minister for Regional Development, Fiona Nash, said the new pavilion offered the community not only sporting facilities but also a function centre and meeting room.
“I’m a massive sports fan, and I’m proud to invest in modern facilities that bring communities together to play sport and host social functions,” Minister Nash said.
“I aim to build the kind of communities that our children and grandchildren want to either stay in or come back to, and sporting facilities like this do just that.”
Federal Member for La Trobe, Jason Wood, said the new pavilion certainly looked the part, overlooking the Chandler Reserve and decked out with all the modern conveniences in the kitchen and bathrooms.
“I have worked closely with many of the local sporting clubs of many years, and this is a great victory to see the new pavilion building standing tall over the Chandler Reserve,” Mr Wood said.
“More than 25 sporting teams access Emerald’s Chandler Reserve; I am sure that these facilities will be well used.”
Cardinia Shire Mayor Brett Owen said Emerald’s football, netball and cricket clubs would reap the benefits of these upgrades and would no doubt be an economic and reputational advantage to the area.
“In addition, local schools and businesses are now also able to use the newly extended pavilion,” Cr Brett Owen said.
“It is always encouraging to see council and community groups working together to achieve common goals, with outcomes that benefit the local and broader community.”
This project is jointly funded by the Coalition Government, the Cardinia Shire Council, Emerald Sports Club and Bendigo Bank.
