Doug Dean Reserve to receive $700,000 investment in City of Ballarat’s Draft Budget

As part of the City of Ballarat’s Draft Budget 2022/23, Doug Dean Reserve will receive a significant facility upgrade with new rugby and cricket compliant changerooms.  

This upgrade follows the new outdoor cricket training and net upgrades, which are currently under construction and will be completed before the next cricket season. 

The $700,000 project will be fully funded by the City of Ballarat and will improve access for all participants, reducing any barriers to female and junior participation in sport.  

Doug Dean Reserve is used by multiple sporting groups and is home to the Ballarat Highlanders Rugby Union Club and the VRI Delacombe Cricket Club. 

City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor, Cr Amy Johnson said this investment will foster a stronger and healthier community, which is one of the key goals of the 2021 – 2025 Council Plan. 

“Our budget consultation process revealed that our community wants their council to invest in creating inclusive and accessible recreation facilities.”  

“The Doug Dean Reserve project delivers new change rooms for two clubs that greatly deserve them. Both clubs and their members have done their best over many years to make the most of a dilapidated building for changerooms, storage and social space. They've been advocating for upgrades to their facilities for a long time and I'm so pleased to be supporting them to achieve this.” 

Cr Johnson said the new changerooms will also attract new players and community groups to the Reserve. 

“We know that active and engaged communities are healthier and happier,” she said. “One of the key ways we can encourage participation is through enhancing our facilities and infrastructure.” 

 “Delacombe is one of the fastest growing suburbs in Ballarat and we must ensure we keep up with that population growth by continuing to invest in, and upgrade our sporting and recreation facilities" 

“We know that high quality, accessible sporting facilities encourage people from diverse backgrounds to participate in sport and we're hopeful this upgrade at Doug Dean will achieve just that.” 

The City of Ballarat Recreation Services team took over management of Doug Dean Reserve’s stadium this year. The upgrades to the changerooms will be stage one of the stadium’s larger capital works program. 

The $700,000 investment falls under the $16.4 million investment into recreational, leisure and community facilities across the municipality. In this draft budget, it is proposed Council will spend $127.3 million on capital works. 

Ballarat City Council will consider the Draft Budget 2022/23 at a Council Meeting on Wednesday 22 June. 

If adopted, the Doug Dean Reserve project will go to tender with construction beginning early 2023.  

Ballarat residents can view the City of Ballarat’s Draft Budget 2022/23 and explore consultation and submission details at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au.   

Printed copies of the Draft Budget can be found at Customer Service and Ballarat Information Centre.