The thriving softball team Craigieburn Eagles will soon have a new home thanks to the Andrews Labor Government's Growing Suburbs Fund.
Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane and Member for Yuroke Ros Spence marked the start of construction on the new Craigieburn Softball Centre on Rhyolite Drive today at a ceremony alongside Hume City Council.
The project received $1.5 million from the 2018-19 round of the Growing Suburbs Fund, which supports projects that support better services, connections and opportunities at the local level.
Catering for the increasing popularity of softball in Craigieburn, particularly among women and girls, the new softball centre will feature two softball fields, with space available for two more and more open areas for the community.
The project will be delivered by the Hume City Council, which has contributed $3.5 million towards the works.
The Labor Government also announced Hume City Council will receive a further $4 million towards three projects from the 2021 round of the Growing Suburbs Fund.
This includes $2 million for a new community centre in Mickleham featuring two kindergarten rooms, four maternal child health consulting rooms and flexible space for events and activities.
Since its establishment in 2015, the Growing Suburbs Fund has facilitated $913.2 million in local infrastructure, created more than 8,880 jobs and supported 253 projects across Melbourne's fastest-growing areas.
For more information on the Growing Suburbs Fund and other local government grants programs, visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane
"The Growing Suburbs Fund is helping fast growing communities like Craigieburn and Mickleham get the vital community facilities they need so they can continue to thrive as the population increases."
"The new softball centre and major investment in the new community centre are great examples of the difference this Fund is making in communities across outer Melbourne."
As stated by Member for Yuroke Ros Spence
"Softball is a booming sport here in Craigieburn and it's great to see the Victorian Government's Growing Suburbs Fund delivering this fantastic new softball centre for Craigieburn and investing in a new community centre in Mickleham."
"I'm very pleased that women and girls playing softball will have access to the high-quality facilities they need and deserve through this Growing Suburbs Fund project. I can't wait to see it complete and being enjoyed by players, their supporters and the community as a whole."
