SLIT-marked courts at Wodonga’s netball hub will be replaced as part of a $516,973 upgrade to be done by April.
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Nine new courts will be built at Kelly Park in lieu of the 12 which have been rated near unplayable by Netball Victoria due to cracks.
Construction firm Excell Gray Bruni this week was given a contract by Wodonga Council for the work which has been long sought by the city’s netball community.
Wodonga Netball Association’s Katrina Donelan, who has lobbied for the project, said it was “fabulous” a deal had been reached.
“For us I think it’s all positive,” she said.
“It’s going to provide a safe surface for junior members and we’re going to be brought up to standard to comply with Netball Victoria, which will allow us to hold big events such as our zone tournaments.”
Councillor Ron Mildren, whose Alliance for Change team pushed for the upgrade during last year’s election, said the new courts would be “an asset for people to get an introduction to netball”.
His colleague Danny Lowe gave praise to Mrs Donelan.
“I think it’s been a great effort by Katrina and her team at the netball club to really push for something that they value,” he said.
“It’s a much-needed facility, the playing surface is an OH and S issue and under the deferral of Baranduda Fields I think we need to plan long term for such a great patronage and usage of those courts.”
Netball Wodonga will contribute $120,000 towards the project, a contribution acknowledged by mayor Anna Speedie.
“$120,000 is a lot of sausages,” Cr Speedie said.
Councillor Tim Quilty also noted a contribution from Sport and Recreation Victoria: “That should be another $100,000 of ratepayers’ money to add back to our surplus budget.”
Mrs Donelan said the work would see representative teams train elsewhere over summer, but the project should be completed before the winter competition.
Improved lighting has also been funded, a move which will allow night matches to be held at the centre which has been restricted by poor illumination for courts.
Mrs Donelan said the biggest impact of switching from 12 to nine courts was likely to be more sessions on Saturday mornings to cater for the games across the centre.
We’re going to be brought up to standard to comply with Netball Victoria, which will allow us to hold big events
- Katrina Donelan, Wodonga Netball Association