By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S most overcrowded sporting facility will receive a vital upgrade thanks to a surprise announcement from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Ms Gillard was in Werribee last Friday to announce the largest amount of external funding for the redevelopment of the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre.
Ms Gillard said her government would provide $9 million to help turn the centre into a state-of-the-art 12 court facility with a 3000 spectator seat show court, a gymnasium and four all-weather outdoor courts.
“The project will encourage elite and local sport participation and promote skill development, social inclusion and well-being in the Wyndham community,” Ms Gillard said.
“The facility’s location, between Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat, will provide a centralised half-way point for competitions and major events, and has the potential to become the regional centre for the West’s booming population.”
Ms Gillard described the facility as “tired” and said it was obviously designed and built in a different era that no longer suited the number of people that were using it every day.
The announcement follows an injection of $20 million by Wyndham Council toward funding the redevlopment in the recent council budget.
Earlier this year Star reported that the State Government had pledged just $650,000 towards the $40 million redevelopment of the facility.
Ms Gillard said her government’s contribution would help transform the sports centre.
“I don’t think you need to blitz the NAPLAN to know that $9 million is a much bigger contribution than $650,000,” she said.
Wyndham Mayor Heather Marcus said she was overwhelmed by the announcement.
“I’m absolutely blown away. I’m so excited and so grateful,” Cr Marcus said.
“It’s absolutely wonderful to think that we now have this $9 million for this facility.”
