MORE Mornington Peninsula sports clubs are set for the big games in 2023 with the completion of new sports facilities at AR & F Ditterich Reserve in Main Ridge, Narambi Reserve in Mornington and Emil Madsen Reserve in Mount Eliza.
Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh joined Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Steve Holland and local sporting clubs at all three venues to officially open the new cricket training facility at Main Ridge, newly-lit sports oval in Mornington and newly-lit soccer pitch at Mount Eliza.
At AR & F Ditterich Reserve, there’s a new three-wicket cricket training facility for the Main Ridge Cricket Club and locals to practice their batting and bowling skills.
The state government bowled in $100,000 into the new cricket training facility from the Community Cricket Program.
The new oval at Narambi Reserve includes players shelters, scoreboards, fencing, sports ground lighting, paths and parking.
The new facilities provide a new home ground advantage for nearly 600 players from the Mornington Junior Football Club, Mornington Cricket Club and Moorooduc Cricket Club.
The state government kicked in more than $490,000 for the oval upgrades from the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.
At Emil Madsen Reserve, the 550 members at the Mount Eliza Soccer Club can look forward to kickstarting the 2023 season on a new soccer pitch with 100 lux LED lighting thanks to $420,000 from the government’s World Game Facilities Fund.
“Sport is the lifeblood of communities like those in the Mornington Peninsula. The new female friendly oval, soccer pitch and cricket nets give locals of all ages and abilities even more reason to join in the fun at their community sport venues,” said McIntosh.
The recent release of the government’s Fair Access Policy Roadmap will also help to ensure women and girls get equal access to community sport facilities like cricket nets across the state.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council contributed more than $2.5 million towards the three projects.
For more information about cricket grant opportunities available visit sport.vic.gov.au
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 21 March 2023
