Mildura Rural City Council today marked the official opening of the $13.025 million second stage of the Mildura Sporting Precinct.
Officially opened by visiting Victorian Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence and Mayor Cr Liam Wood, Stage 2 of the $47 million project has proven to be the cherry on top for arguably the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by Council.
With significant Victorian Government investment, including $10 million through the Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program, $250,000 through the Local Community Infrastructure Fund (Multisport Infrastructure) and $500,000 through the Local Community Infrastructure Fund (Outdoor Netball), Stage 2 works were delivered over an 18-month period and include:
- Upgrade of the LED lighting to Oval 1 to 500-lux suitable for the conduct of major events. (Completed in stage 1)
- Eight-lane turf and synthetic cricket practice nets (Stage 2 works)
- A second multi-use oval with a centre wicket floodlit to 150-lux competition standards
- Additional gender-neutral change rooms, umpire facilities and storage
- New ground floor social room
- Four indoor squash courts (with moveable wall for doubles competition)
- Four outdoor acrylic netball courts floodlit to 200-lux competition standards
- Indoor seating improvements, including retractable grandstand accommodating 500 spectators
- External seating improvements, including installation of oval perimeter seating, a spectator mound catering up to 5,000 people, and additional tiered seating and shade catering up to 200 spectators
- Window blinds for Court Hall 1
- Electronic Scoreboards to support Oval 1
- Vehicle access to park around Oval 1
- Perimeter and ticket fencing
- Second floor sports administration hub
The precinct will also see the four outdoor beach volleyball courts, a Changing Places facility, additional sealed carparks, landscaping improvements and solar panels operational this year.
Successful completion of Stage 2 was made possible by several contractors, including local contractor King Construction Group.
Several sporting and community groups have also supported the build:
Stage 2:
- Sunraysia Volleyball Inc $45,000
- Australian Football League $250,000
- Cricket Australia/Victoria $275,000
Outdoor Netball Courts:
- Mildura Netball Association $265,000
- South Mildura Sporting Club $50,000
- Sunraysia Football Netball League $50,000
Additional improvements to the precinct have been made possible through the following grants:
- Solar Installation - Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund (Phase 3) $490,000
- Indoor seating, additional carparks and landscaping improvements - Local Road and Community Infrastructure Fund (Phase 4) $1,124,817
- Changing Places $148,500
Mayor Cr Liam Wood thanked the Victorian Government for its support of MSP's second stage.
"This facility has been a long time coming for our community. It was first envisaged more than two decades ago, with the goal to create a home for community sporting groups and organisations who up until this point had been homeless," Cr Wood said.
"Since officially opening its doors in late 2021, MSP has proven a major drawcard for our region, attracting numerous events while also becoming home to several local indoor and outdoor user groups.
"The addition of cricket and squash facilities at the venue has led to the relocation of Mildura Squash Inc. and the Mildura East Cricket Club respectively, who have joined Sunraysia Volleyball Inc. South Mildura Sporting Club, Mildura Badminton, Midura Netball Association and the Mildura Basketball Association as our key tenants.
"Each of these groups has seen exponential growth in participation since making the move.
"When we first opened the facility we encouraged everyone to see the action and experience the atmosphere at Mildura Sporting Precinct. The action and atmosphere has been nothing short of electric, and I can't wait to see what the next exciting chapter for this great facility brings."
For Mildura Badminton, having access to eight dedicated courts has proven a huge success story, with 160 players now registered for regular competition.
The Mildura Basketball Association, meanwhile, had 230 teams prior to MSP. This has grown to 303 registered teams across two venues. In total – the MBA now has 2,300 registered players.
Social and competitive netball is also on the rise, with 130 teams and 1,400 participants registered across five days a week at MSP. Local volleyball numbers meanwhile have nearly doubled from 214 to 408 players, while the number of registered teams has grown from nine to 43 teams.
The South Mildura Sporting Club has also grown – and is now the number one ranked club for junior registrations. Mildura Squash and Mildura East Cricket Club are also seeing tremendous growth since making the move.
Mildura Squash have introduced both racquetball and a junior program and has increased its membership from 40 to 50 players. The group have also attracted the Victorian Masters tournament in February.
Mildura East Cricket Club, meanwhile, has also seen growth across its playing numbers, with an additional juniors team taking the field during the 2023/24 Sunraysia Cricket Association season.
The impacts the facility has had on the community from an inclusion and equality standpoint also can't be overlooked.
The venue has boosted Indigenous participation rates through incredible events like Dreamtime at the P, Clontarf Foundation sports days, Mallee Tigers programs, and Koori Academies in basketball and netball.
It has also become the base for the SFNL junior girls competition, while female participation rates have increased across basketball, netball and volleyball competitions.
The venue has also partnered with both the Mildura Specialist School and Mallee Sports Assembly (MSA) to improve opportunities across all-abilities sports. MSA run a weekly All Abilities Netball program at MSP, while staff are also working with several groups to bring more wheelchair sports to the venue.
MSP has also become a home for numerous community groups, programs and forums, including:
- Community Playgroup
- Parents Walk and Talk
- Active Mummas
- Women Return to Sport Strategy
- RecSports
- Supported Playgroups
- School sports days
- Active Ageing Classes – run with Lime Therapy
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said was significant value investing in regional facilities that deliver more opportunities for all Victorians to enjoy the sports they love.
"The new Mildura Sporting Precinct is a big boost for Mildura and the region, delivering the world class sport facilities the community deserves," Ms Spence said.
