The Mildura Sporting Precinct is now ready for action with the ribbon cut officiated on Friday.

The Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, said she was delighted to officially open the two-storey stadium in Mildura South, marking a new era for sport in Sunraysia.

“This is a very exciting day for Mildura. Having lived in Mildura for over 40 years, I know how much this magnificent precinct will mean for families and people of all ages in the community.

“Community sport is at the heart of every community in Australia. It has the power to enhance lives and brings people together in a way that little else does.

“This precinct will a place of growth for our young boys and girls where they can learn key skills in physical activity, but also develop character skills in resilience, comradery and friendship. But importantly, it will also be a place where special memories are made.

“Who knows what young sporting stars may arise from Mildura and would have begun their journey in some of the best facilities regional Victoria has to offer.

Inside the precinct is a six-court indoor sports stadium with grand stand seating, and includes a foyer, reception, administration area, café, together with amenities as well as function and social rooms. Outside the facility, the competition-sized outdoor sporting oval, with fenced playing areas with dimensions and surfaces to meet AFL, cricket and other major event requirements.

“This wonderful facility will attract tourism to the area, drive business and investment and most importantly provide locals with the best that the state has to offer in community sport.

“This impressive project will accommodate sporting spectacles in basketball, netball, volleyball, squash, badminton, AFL and cricket.

The $34 million project was made possible through the Liberal Nationals’ Building Better Regions Fund, with the Mildura Sporting Precinct successful for two rounds of funding equating to $17.5 million.

“This funding is designed to deliver better facilities and economic opportunities for regional Australia, and today we have seen exactly that here in Mildura,” Dr Webster said.

“The Australian Government is investing a record $110 billion over 10 years from 2021–22 through its rolling infrastructure plan to secure Australia’s world-leading economic recovery by delivering nation-building infrastructure projects.

“It’s been a challenging year, and community sport has borne a heavy load throughout the pandemic. The opening of the Mildura Sporting Precinct couldn’t have come at a better time. A real, needs-based project meeting a real need for Sunraysia locals.

Other funding contributors include the Mildura Rural City Council $12,142, 000; the Victorian Government $3,750,000; Cricket Australia/Cricket Victoria $275,000; and an additional $370,368 from sports clubs in the community.

Fast Facts:

• The project supported 41 jobs during construction and creates another 20 ongoing jobs.
• The Australian Government is investing $1.38 billion from 2017-18 to 2024-25 in the Building Better Regions Fund.
• The Building Better Regions Fund aims to create jobs, drive economic growth, and build stronger regional communities into the future.
• The two streams of funding available under the program are:

o The Infrastructure Projects stream supports projects involving construction of new infrastructure or the upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure that provide economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas.
o The Community Investments stream funds community development activities including, but not limited to new or expanded local events, strategic regional planning, and leadership and capability building activities.

• The Building Better Regions Fund is investing in projects located outside the major capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra.
• Details of funding rounds and program guidelines for the Building Better Regions Fund are available at www.business.gov.au/bbrf.