By Parker McKenzie
Yarra Ranges Council has welcomed the Victorian State Government’s new Fair Access Policy Roadmap, which will require local councils to ensure equitable access to sporting facilities for people of all genders to continue receiving infrastructure funding from July 2024.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence announced the three-phase initiative alongside representatives from state sporting organisations and local government and Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins.
“The Fair Access Policy Roadmap will deliver greater health outcomes for all Victorians, a stronger community sport and recreation sector, and fairer use of public sporting assets.” Ms Spence said.
The State Government’s Fair Access Policy Roadmap was developed to create a state-wide foundation to improve access and use of community sports facilities for women and girls.
Yarra Ranges Council Environment and Infrastructure Director Mark Varmalis said the council is committed to improving opportunities for gender-diverse participation in sport and recreation across the LGA.
“Over the past few years, council has invested significantly in new sporting infrastructure to support the growth of participation of women and girls,” he said.
“This has included seven new pavilions, nine temporary change facilities and lighting upgrades to 12 ovals. This has resulted in a 68 per cent increase in female football participation, with over 1300 female players now regularly using these facilities.”
The first phase of the initiative will see the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation provide training, education and support to local councils, sporting bodies and facilities to implement the roadmap. The second phase will require local councils to develop equitable access and use policy and action plans, with stage three seeing local councils lose access to infrastructure funding if they don’t guarantee equitable access.
Mr Varmalis said Yarra Ranges Council looks forward to working with the state government to continue this important work.
“Yarra Ranges Council has also partnered with Knox and Maroondah Councils, along with local health providers Inspiro and Each, to launch Our Codes, Our Clubs: Equality is the game, a resource to help clubs provide gender equitable environments,” Mr Varmelis said.
