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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.
| PROJECT | VALUE | DESCRIPTION |
| 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 million | Construction of synthetic soccer pitches, lighting upgrades. |
| Traralgon Tennis Centre | $400,000 | Construction of synthetic soccer pitches, lighting upgrades. |
| Sale Tennis Centre | $1.0 million | Upgrade 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.
| Venue | Description |
| Traralgon Recreation Reserve | Reconstruction of netball courts, complete with a lighting upgrade, renovations to change rooms and toilet amenities, and improved safety measures for roller derby |
| Glengarry Recreation Reserve | New indoor and outdoor cricket facilities as well as change rooms for women and umpires |
| Ronald Reserve, Morwell East | Repairs to existing tennis fencing and new change rooms, catering to a growing female participation base |
| Cowwarr Recreation Reserve | Installation of unisex home and away change rooms, trainers’ rooms, umpires’ change rooms, as well as male, female, and family-friendly amenities |
| Gormandale Recreation Reserve | Lighting upgrades for football and netball |
| Heyfield Recreation Reserve | Installation 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, Newborough | Lighting will be upgraded to enable increased participation |
| Maryvale Reserve, Morwell | Installation of four lanes of retractable cricket training nets and female change facilities and upgrades to the umpires’ rooms |
| Willow Grove Recreation Reserve | Construction 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.
A Job Morwell Done
From the gleaming green turf of the synthetic oval at the western edge to the blue hue of new netball courts in the east, the Morwell Recreation Reserve has undergone a transcendent transformation.
Throw in the reborn Keegan Street Reserve – upgraded to a level two cricket facility and re-opened in March 2021 – and you have a multisport complex the envy of any across Victoria.
A $9 million renovation – funded by the federal and state governments – has all but been completed at the historic Gippsland site, and Tiger Town is abuzz.
“We’ve been using it as a point of difference. We use it as part of our business case. The facilities are best by far for football and netball going around,” Morwell Football Netball Club President Paul Spagnolo said.
As the finishing touches are applied, the scope of transmutation draws sharply into focus.
Where once weary asphalt welcomed visitors by the Travers Street entrance, now stands a vibrant and enticing court complex, complete with a shared pavilion for cricket and netball.
A tired former caravan park site forsaken by travellers and time alike has found new life as a full-size synthetic field compatible with sports of all varieties in all weather conditions.
Keegan Street Reserve is a breath of fresh air after being re-aligned with new wicket blocks, practice nets and improved drainage.
Lighting upgrades have put excellence back in the spotlight, literally and figuratively, as Morwell hangs its hat on a truly world class precinct.
“We focus in on the Morwell Rec Reserve being the centre of excellence for AFL in the region,” Spagnolo said.
“No doubt it’s helped bring AFL games; we had the Collingwood St Kilda and the Hawthorn St Kilda games (in 2020) and we hope for many more of those to come our way in the future.”
A wet and wild 2020 winter proved the worth of the synthetic addition to the ground – used ‘flat out’ by the club and TAC Cup neighbours Gippsland Power before COVID disrupted their seasons.
“They love it… the surface is great, the lighting is excellent and they really appreciate it – it caps off being the best facility in the area,” Spagnolo said.
“It’s a game changer for us. We would get chased off the main oval (due to wet weather), if we were playing this year it would be quite challenging being so wet. For us now we can change it around and reduce the load.”
As warmer months approach and, hopefully, a pandemic subsides, the Morwell Recreation Reserve is set and ready to enjoy a long stint in the sun.
The $9 million Morwell Recreation Reserve project was co-funded by the federal and state governments.
‘It’s All Happening’ at the Moe Cricket Ground
The Moe Cricket Ground shares more than just an acronym with its famous Melbourne counterpart when it comes to sporting brilliance.
Ted Summerton Reserve (TSR) is now home to the $3.5 million Gippsland Regional Cricket Centre (GRCC), setting a new standard for regional cricketing facilities.
Cricket Victoria Chief Executive Andrew Ingleton attended the opening ceremony and was bowled over by the quality of the site.
“What a fantastic day for Moe and the wider Latrobe Valley. This new $3.5 million facility will be a focal point for cricket in the region and help us continue to grow the game from the grassroots through to elite levels,” Mr Ingleton said.
“I’d like to thank the Victorian Government, Latrobe City Council and Cricket Australia for their support in delivering this major regional project.
“We look forward to supporting the local cricket community to develop the next generation of Latrobe Valley cricketers using this wonderful new facility.”
The state-of-the-art facility features:
• Five lanes of indoor synthetic training wickets with extended run ups
• 1000 Lux LED lighting
• Cutting edge training and coaching technology
• Enclosed outdoor turf training wickets with retractable netting and a storage facility
• An auxiliary building complete with a community meeting room
• Office and administration space
• Unisex change facilities and a first aid room.
The centre will have year-round multipurpose use across a host of indoor sports including futsal and other community activities.
The project created local jobs with Gippsland based Langden Constructions leading the design and construct works, JJC Design heading design works and a range of local sub-contractors also engaged.
Ted Summerton Reserve has enjoyed the spotlight in recent years, hosting two fully fledged Melbourne Stars Big Bash League matches in partnership with the Latrobe Valley Authority and Latrobe City Council.
The GRCC project was funded by the Victorian Government via $3 million from the Latrobe Valley Authority’s $85 million sports and community initiative and $500,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Community Cricket Program supported by Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria.
Slam Dunk For Indoor Sports Stadium
The Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS) is open for business following a $19 million redevelopment at Catterick Crescent in Traralgon.
Hawthorn Netball Club, Melbourne Boomers, Collingwood Netball Club and the National Basketball League’s 3×3 format have all committed to GRISS appearances in a big coup for Latrobe City’s burgeoning sports and events precinct.
There was plenty of star power at the 17 December 2020 official opening, with Collingwood and England international netball superstar Geva Mentor in attendance, plus video messages from the Boomers and Collingwood.
Collingwood netball legend Geva Mentor added some spark to opening day.
Elite and amateur athletes alike from across Gippsland and beyond will benefit from increased offerings at the venue, with community user groups and sporting clubs already taking to the courts.
The redeveloped centre now features nine courts, a show court with 3000 spectator seats, office and meeting space, conference rooms, café, social spaces and caters to a broad spectrum of indoor sports, shows and events.
“Everything’s been extremely positive; it’s a great space,” Traralgon Amateur Basketball Association Secretary Jeff White said.
“To have access to nine basketball courts in regional Victoria is an outstanding achievement for Latrobe City and the region.
“It’s only going to help grow and develop our sport especially but also other sports that use the facility.”
A 12-month construction cycle provided an economic boost for Latrobe City, with a host of local contractors engaged throughout the build.
Gippsland businesses MSD Painting, Morrow Plumbing, Platinum Electricians, WELDTEK, CME Installations, Cornwall Building, Carpet Country, MTS Excavations and Drilling, J.O Miller and M&JM Cook, among others, were all engaged by lead contractor Becon Constructions on the project.
Unity: Local user groups joined with Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing (front right) and Latrobe City Mayor Sharon Gibson (fifth from right) to officially open the GRISS.
Latrobe City Mayor Sharon Gibson lauded the new-look centre and its implications for future generations of young athletes and event attraction.
“Latrobe City Council is thrilled to deliver this world-class indoor sports stadium for the benefit of all across our patch. Locals, visitors and elite athletes alike will enjoy these facilities, which will attract major tourism and big dollars into our economy for generations to come,” Cr Gibson said.
“This project is a testament to the State Government’s support for Latrobe City and we applaud their vision for local infrastructure upgrades to enhance our region’s clout as a major sporting and events precinct.”
The project was funded by $17 million from the Victorian Government’s $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative, administered by Latrobe Valley Authority, and $2 million Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Community Sports Infrastructure Loan Scheme.
Take a virtual tour of the new Traralgon Sports Stadium with Latrobe City’s Larry Sengstock >
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