Victoria Park sports pavilion project receives a $500,000 boost from the Victorian Government 

A new community sports pavilion with female-friendly change rooms for Victoria Park has received a timely boost this week in the form of a $500,000 grant from the Victorian Government.  

The funding will go towards a $3.25 million City of Ballarat project to construct a new pavilion at the Victoria Park Soccer Club in Military Drive.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Daniel Moloney and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison MP have welcomed the grant, which was awarded through the Victorian Government’s World Game Facilities Fund on Thursday.  

“We’re really grateful for the state’s support of this important project. Soccer is one of our strongest participation sports and Victoria Park is at the gateway to our fast-growing western suburbs, so this upgrade will have a significant impact for hundreds of players at senior and junior levels,” Cr Moloney said. 

“This supports the $1.3 million resurfacing and lighting works completed and underway at the facility, which together will enhance the status of Victoria Park as one of city’s most important community spaces.”  

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the Victoria Park Football (Soccer) Club, which is based at the ground, has 140 players across two senior and seven junior sides but has previously had more than 200 players across three senior and nine junior teams. 

“As we know from similar projects across Ballarat, upgraded facilities make it much easier for our community clubs to attract and retain players, and female friendly facilities help to level the playing field when comes to participation in sport. I’m confident this project, with the support of $500,000 from the Victorian Government, will help make that happen here too," Ms Addison said. 

The pavilion will include home and away female friendly change rooms, essential operational office space, storage, community kitchen and canteen, umpires change rooms, publicly accessible toilets, spectator seating and path networks and landscaping. 

The ground, which is also home to the Lucas Cricket Club, will be able to be used for soccer and cricket while the new pavilion is built.  

Construction of the pavilion is expected to start later this year and completed in mid-2022.  

Cr Moloney said the pavilion project follows extensive resurfacing, irrigation and drainage works already completed at the ground, which includes two soccer pitches and a hard wicket cricket oval. The installation of lighting at the ground will also start in coming months. The $1.3 million lighting and ground works have been funded by the City of Ballarat.  

The existing pavilion at the ground will be repurposed as the home for the Ballarat Dog Obedience Club which operates in parkland next to the ground at Victoria Park. 

The World Game Facilities Fund is a Victorian Government funding program that assists local football (soccer) clubs and organisations to upgrade existing or develop new facilities across the state.