General News
18 June, 2023
Our sporting chance of $2m Games fund
Horsham wants a slice of the Commonwealth Games riches – and it's putting in a bid for $2 million to cash in on the visitor and tourist boom as part of a push by Regional Cities Victoria (RCV). Horsham Rural City Council mayor Robyn Gulline...
Horsham wants a slice of the Commonwealth Games riches – and it's putting in a bid for $2 million to cash in on the visitor and tourist boom as part of a push by Regional Cities Victoria (RCV).
Horsham Rural City Council mayor Robyn Gulline announced the bid at Dudley Cornell Park on June 7, alongside representatives from Little Athletics Horsham, Volleyball Horsham and Horsham District Soccer Club.
Horsham Rural City Council, a member of RCV, is calling for measures that ensure all regional cities benefit from the influx of athletes, visitors and publicity the Games will bring.
Cr Gulline said regional Victoria wanted to have a lasting legacy of improved sporting facilities for "our future stars".
"Community sport and emerging athletes should have proper sporting infrastructure in their regions to foster their talent and become sporting stars of the future," she said.
"The facilities here at Dudley Cornell Oval are tired and need to be upgraded to meet community expectations and enhance the sporting options and opportunities for our community members."
With council currently redeveloping the facilities at City Oval, it is seeking state government support to provide a modern pavilion with multi-purpose community space and compliant changerooms.
It has already almost completed a feasibility study into a multi-sports facility.
President of Volleyball Horsham, David Berry, said he would welcome any funding towards new multi-purpose sport projects.
"Now that there is a possibility of proposed new sporting venues, it's going to be a positive for everyone – not just volleyball but all sports," Mr Berry said.
"If the proposal of the new multi-purpose stadium comes to fruition it will double the number of courts we have access to, which then enables us to expand a lot more."
Currently, Volleyball Horsham operates out of St Brigid's College on Mondays and Wednesdays, with the club limited to two courts during those times.
"There's a general sense of excitement in our regional communities as we ponder how best to showcase what we have to offer," Cr Gulline said.
"We hope our regional communities will be proud to have delivered a Games like no other, in a place like no other, and this will be the start of Victoria becoming a state of cities showcasing regional Victoria as a great place to live, work and visit."
RCV comprises of the 10 biggest cities in Victoria: Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.