Media Releases

State Government funding to the tune of $93,140 has been allocated to the Kyabram Racecourse and Recreation Reserve Trust Committee following an announcement by Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

The allocation of funds, to be used for a car park resurface at the site, comes on the back of a five year campaign by the Trust Committee to state government representatives including the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty. 

Trust Secretary, Ian Purdey said the committee was thrilled with the funding and had additional good news with an offer to hold the Victorian Ladies Par 3 Tournament at the Kyabram Parkland Golf Club – where the Victorian Men’s Par 3 is held annually, delivering an estimated economic benefit of $250,000 to the town of Kyabram.

“Securing funding for the car park works has been a major long term priority for the Trust since it won the rights to hold the Victorian Men’s Par 3 Championships five years ago,” Mr Purdey said. 

According to Mr Purdey the unfinished surface of the car park had become an unpleasant and dangerous muddy area following any significant rainfall and created a dust hazard in the dry summer months for users and neighbouring properties.

Mr Purdey said the ability to improve the car park facility will allow the Trust to continue to host two major Victorian golf championships, provide the wider community with a top class facility and also eliminate the annual $2000 cost to grade and re-gravel the car park. 

“We received many knockbacks during the process to seek funding, but would like to thank local Member for Rodney, Paul Weller and his staff for their ongoing support and encouragement to keep going,” Mr Purdey said. 

Mr Weller said the Government had recognised the car park at the site was highly frequented by its four major tenants - the Kyabram Parkland Golf Club, the Kyabram Trotting Club, the Small Bore Rifle Club and the Kyabram Urban Landcare Group - as well as many other local residents. 

“These works will greatly improve the standard and accessibility of the site which attracts more than 19,000 visitors annually and hosts in excess of 170 meetings and events,” he said.

Mr Weller praised the Trust for its ongoing hard work and professionalism in seeking the appropriate funds.

Kyabram Racecourse and Recreation Reserve Trust Chairman, John Elborough  publicly congratulated Parkland Golf Club Treasurer, Glen Smith and Trust Secretary Ian Purdey on their wonderful efforts in putting forward the submission on behalf of the Trust. 

“Funds for the car park works have been provided through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting Locals First Program, a $100 million State Government initiative that enables regional communities to devise and deliver service and infrastructure responses that reflect local priorities,” Mr Weller said. 

Recreational anglers now enjoy greater access to a popular section of the Broken Creek at Nathalia thanks to a new boat ramp directly downstream of Chinaman’s Weir.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller said popular recreational species such as Murray cod, golden perch and redfin could be found in and around the assortment of deep pools, submerged snags and overhanging trees along this section of the Broken Creek.

“The Nathalia Angling Club along with Parks Victoria was able to construct the ramp and surrounding infrastructure thanks to funding from Fisheries Victoria,” Mr Weller said.

“Importantly local contractors were used for the majority of the construction works and materials were also sourced locally from businesses in the surrounding areas.”

In the 2011 budget the State Government allocated $16.2 million to further improve recreational fishing opportunities and facilities.

This commitment is being delivered through a range of programs including the provision of funding each year over four years towards improving and enhancing recreational fishing access and infrastructure throughout Victoria.

Mr Weller said the money would be used to upgrade existing boat launching facilities and infrastructure and improving access for anglers to piers, jetties and roads in conjunction with relevant authorities.

“We will be identifying and installing fish ladders in conjunction with catchment management authorities and water authorities, and building fishing platforms and fish cleaning tables at popular fishing locations,” he said.

Anyone with suggestions for improving recreational fishing access and infrastructure in their local area, can submit their ideas online at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing.

The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has urged residents across the electorate to attend their local football and netball finals.

Mr Weller said the finals season provided an exciting opportunity for people to be active in their local communities and to get behind their local sporting men, women and children.

He said football and netball clubs were the lifeblood of many small communities across the region and it was important to support them at every opportunity.

“The atmosphere at games during the finals season is electric and provides great entertainment for the entire family.

“It’s a great community spectacle and one which encourages a positive attitude toward active participation.”

Mr Weller wished all players, officials and supporters involved in finals campaigns well in their sporting endeavours and said he looked forward to supporting as many teams as possible over the coming weeks.

“I’m a Lockington boy at heart, but I’ve been to many games at other clubs throughout the season to support football and netball teams in my electorate and I’ll be doing the same during the finals season.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are an avid supporter of either sport, or whether you follow the games throughout the season, you are always guaranteed great action and entertainment when it comes to a football or netball final.”

Victorian Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty has accepted an invitation to visit the Rodney electorate to be briefed on a range of sporting related projects in the region.

The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller extended the invitation to Minister Delahunty in State Parliament last night.

Mr Weller said the Minister had agreed to visit the electorate on a date yet to be confirmed.

“There are a range of important sport and recreation projects bubbling away in this region and I was keen for the Minister to come and learn about them first-hand,” he said.

“Now that he has agreed to the visit, we will sit down together and confirm a suitable date.”

Mr Weller said he would arrange for the Minister to attend an on-site briefing and inspection of Echuca’s Victoria Park sporting precinct to learn of the latest developments regarding the Victoria Park Master Plan.

“Vic Park and its immediate surrounds combine to form the key sporting and recreation precinct in Echuca and there is much work to be done at the reserve to bring it up to an acceptable standard,” he said.

“The master plan for the precinct includes a proposal to upgrade the main sports oval, replace tennis courts, construct a new shared pavilion and community facility, reinstate the second sports field, upgrade the amenity of Vic Park and improve traffic management in the area.”

Mr Weller said he was also keen for the Minister to visit Cohuna to learn about the Master Plan to enhance the sporting and recreational facilities at the town’s recreation reserve.

“This plan includes upgrades to the main sport fields, netball precinct, main pavilion, second oval and the surrounds of the reserve,” he said.

Mr Weller said the Kyabram Racecourse and Recreation Reserve Trust Committee was working through a problematic issue regarding an un-sealed car park at the facility and he intended to inspect the site with the Minister.

“The current unfinished nature of the car park means it becomes an unpleasant and dangerous muddy area on days following rain events of any more than 15mm,” he said.

“The car park is also creating a dust hazard in the dry summer months for both users and neighbouring properties.”