ALBURY mayor Kevin Mack is on the money when he says for regional facilities to be improved, “there has to be a little bit of pain to get a bit of gain”.
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Whether it be better quality roads or top-notch facilities to match those of capital cities, which we all want, there are times when we need to be patient.
The $9 million redevelopment of the Lavington Sportsground is a case in point.
The first sod was turned on Thursday morning in what promises to be an exciting development for the Border’s sporting community.
In recent years, Lavington has hosted AFL, NRL, A-League and Big Bash matches – both pre-season and for competition points – in a huge vote of confidence for what the ground, and our region, has to offer.
Albury Council is keen to replicate the success of the “Border Bash” from last December, when almost 10,000 people packed into Lavington on a Tuesday to watch the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder compete in men’s and women’s matches.
But in order for those kinds of events to return, an eye must be kept on the future.
“This funding recognises and helps maintain Albury-Wodonga’s reputation as regional Australia’s sporting capital. Lavington has played a key part in this, but the complex also needs further investment and development to grow the story,” member for Farrer Sussan Ley said on Thursday.
It won’t just be top-level blow-ins who will feel the benefit of this upgrade at Lavington.
Significantly, It will provide a massive improvement for sportsmen and women on the Border, as well.
Among other things, the $9 million development will include the construction of new multi-purpose playing fields and a major grandstand extension.
The upgrade will not only help Albury lure top-level sport to the area, it will make Lavington an attractive proposition for junior state and national carnivals, which would provide an economic boost for the entire region.
Switching to another code, the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup, held annually in Albury-Wodonga each January, contributed $4.2 million to the Border economy last year.
If works to the changerooms and grandstand at Lavington Sportsground mean the Ovens and Murray grand final has to be shifted next season, that would appear a small price to pay.
