Archive for: June 2023

Latrobe Valley Sports Precinct

 

The Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative (LVSCI) was an $85 million investment to improve social, health, and economic outcomes in the Latrobe Valley from 2017 to 2022. It formed part of the Victorian Government’s $266 million package of support for the Latrobe Valley. The LVSCI had a place-based approach with a specific focus on infrastructure and social cohesion through investment in state-of-the-art facilities, sporting events, and community development activities across the three local government areas of Latrobe City Council, Wellington Shire Council, and Baw Baw Shire Council.

The Latrobe Valley region has been transformed into one of regional Australia’s top sports and community events precincts improving health, economic and social outcomes, including a strong pride of place. 

Key partnerships with a range of major sporting organisations, the three Councils, Sport & Recreation Victoria (SRV), Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Destination Gippsland (DG), other stakeholders and community members enabled the delivery of the LVSCI.

The initiative included:

  • $73.1 million major infrastructure program to build or upgrade seven major sporting facilities in the Latrobe Valley region
  • $5 million upgrading nine high-priority community sporting facilities on crown land (Community Managed Places Program – DELWP-managed)
  • $6.9 million for major events and community outreach

Milestones

  • Over 300 local jobs have been created across the projects with over 60 percent of the workforce from the Latrobe Valley region.
  • Local businesses and contractors were supported to bid for, and deliver, the construction and supply of these infrastructure projects.
  • Over 35 major sporting events were delivered to activate these facilities, including the NBL Blitz, World Jousting Championships, Melbourne Victory (men/women), Melbourne Stars Big Bash, and Melbourne Boomers WNBL games.
  • Funding also delivered a range of community engagement and capacity-building activities, such as strategic planning grants, sporting clinics, school and community visits, coach development opportunities, club workshops, and pathway programs to elite sport.

MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE

An Infrastructure Project Office was established at Latrobe City Council to manage six of the major infrastructure projects totaling $68.1 million while Wellington Shire Council was responsible for managing the Sale Tennis Centre project.

PROJECTVALUEDESCRIPTION
Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre$57 million:
$46 m LVSCI
$8 m SRV loan
$3 m Latrobe City
Construction of a new regionally significant aquatic centre incorporating indoor and outdoor swimming, recreation, and community spaces. Click here to view venue site.
Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium$19 million:
$17 m LVSCI
$2 m SRV loan
Redevelopment of the stadium, car park, increased seating capacity, change rooms, and multi-purpose facilities, as well as upgrade of sports pavilion and outdoor oval.
Morwell Recreation Reserve$9.0 million:
$4 m LVSCI
$5 m Commonwealth
Upgrades to netball courts and pavilion (Stage 1) and new AFL facilities (Stage 2).
Ted Summerton Reserve$3.5 million:
$3 m LVSCI $500,000 SRV
New cricketing facilities, including the Cricket Centre of Excellence.
Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Stadium$1.7 millionConstruction of synthetic soccer pitches, lighting upgrades.
Traralgon Tennis Centre$400,000Construction of synthetic soccer pitches, lighting upgrades.
Sale Tennis Centre$1.0 millionUpgrade to courts and facilities.

COMMUNITY MANAGED PLACES

The program (managed by DELWP and SRV) has upgraded nine local sporting reserves across Latrobe City, Baw Baw, and Wellington Shires on crown land.

VenueDescription
Traralgon Recreation ReserveReconstruction of netball courts, complete with a lighting upgrade, renovations to change rooms and toilet amenities, and improved safety measures for roller derby
Glengarry Recreation ReserveNew indoor and outdoor cricket facilities as well as change rooms for women and umpires
Ronald Reserve, Morwell EastRepairs to existing tennis fencing and new change rooms, catering to a growing female participation base
Cowwarr Recreation ReserveInstallation of unisex home and away change rooms, trainers’ rooms, umpires’ change rooms, as well as male, female, and family-friendly amenities
Gormandale Recreation ReserveLighting upgrades for football and netball
Heyfield Recreation ReserveInstallation of cricket training nets including three new bays with retractable nets, resurfacing of existing netball court and development of the second court, and upgrade to lighting on the main oval.
Monash Reserve, NewboroughLighting will be upgraded to enable increased participation
Maryvale Reserve, MorwellInstallation of four lanes of retractable cricket training nets and female change facilities and upgrades to the umpires’ rooms
Willow Grove Recreation ReserveConstruction of multipurpose female-friendly match day facilities for netball, tennis, and umpires

EVENTS WEBSITE

The initial events precinct website was established to showcase the above venues within the Latrobe Valley Sports Precinct and has now grown to include all significant venues across Gippsland to attract major events to the region.