On Track for New Bike Park and Apollo Bay Cricket Nets Upgrade

Published on 31 October 2025

On Track for New Bike Park

Council has officially backed construction of the Colac Bike Park, giving the green light for the project to be submitted for Victorian Government funding.

The funding application seeks a Victorian Government grant of $500,000, with a local contribution of $226,000.

This would include $146,000 from Council and an $80,000 contribution from Colac Connected Communities.

Mayor Jason Schram said the collaboration reflected a strong local partnership and community investment.

“The $80,000 contribution from Colac Connected Communities shows the strength of local partnerships and the community’s commitment to work together to try and get much-wanted projects off the ground,” Cr Schram said.

Jaccob Rodda from Colac Connected Communities said, "Our long-standing committee has been looking for an appropriate legacy project that delivers a wide community benefit and enhances Colac.

“This project is something the community has been requesting for a number of years.

“We hope this investment from Colac Connected Communities, funded by Bendigo Bank's profits, is seen as a valuable project.”

Council undertook extensive community engagement in development of the project, including gathering community feedback onsite at Elliminyt Recreation Reserve and online surveys during both the pre-design and concept design phases.

“We’ve seen strong engagement from locals toward this project over several years, especially young people and families,” Cr Schram said.

“The Bike Park would be a fantastic outcome for a high-growth area in Colac. We’re really excited the final design reflects what our community asked for.”

HOWZAT! Council to stump up support for Apollo Bay Cricket Nets Upgrade

At the October meeting, Councillors voted to allocate $35,0000 in budget funding for essential safety improvements to the existing cricket nets facility at the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve.

Previous applications through the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund to upgrade the nets to a three-lane structure were unsuccessful.

Mayor Jason Schram said the Cricket Club has now requested Council’s support to proceed with immediate safety upgrades using the allocated budget.

“We’re happy to support this decision. The current nets are in poor condition and need urgent attention to improve safety and usability for training, ensuring the community continues to benefit from accessible and secure sporting infrastructure,” Cr Schram said.