State Government funding – Western Oval and Wydinia Kindergarten
Published on 15 October 2018
State Government funding – Western Oval and Wydinia Kindergarten and Early Learning Centre
Colac Otway Shire Mayor Joe McCracken has thanked the State Government for two significant grants that will benefit the Colac district sporting community and families with young children.
Colac Otway Shire Council has been successful in gaining a $500,000 grant towards an upgrade of Western Reserve and $160,504 for improvements to Wydinia Kindergarten and Early Learning Centre.
Cr McCracken welcomed Western Victoria MP Gayle Tierney to Colac today where she announced the Western Reserve funding made available through the State Government’s 2018-19 Female Friendly Facilities Fund and the Inclusive Kindergartens Facilities Program Buildings and Playgrounds Grant for Wydinia.
“The $500,000 grant will go a long way towards the $862,500 project which will significantly improve the playing surface and lighting to support the growth of women’s football, while also benefitting the many other users of the oval,” he said.
“Council has already been successful in receiving a funding pledge from AFL Victoria of $86,250 towards the Western Reserve project and council will provide a contribution of $276,250 to ensure the project can go ahead.
“The State Government grant is so important because of what it can help Colac Otway achieve in regard to the redevelopment of the playing surface at Western Reserve, home of Colac Imperials Football Netball Club and Colac West Cricket Club.
“The upgrade project will include the installation of drainage, irrigation and turf as well as improving the lighting at the oval so teams can train at night,” Cr McCracken said.
“Players will be able to use the reserve for more hours with the upgrade of playing surfaces and provision of lighting, and allow the Colac Imperials Football Netball Club to establish another junior girls’ football team, after already fielding a senior women’s team and two junior girls’ teams in 2018.”
Cr McCracken said families would also benefit greatly from the State Government grant for improvements to Wydinia which would assist the kindergarten and early learning centre to be inclusive and would particularly support children with disabilities and additional needs.
“It’s fantastic to see Wydinia identifying how it can provide an inclusive environment and the State Government investing in such an important objective.”