Dallas Brooks Reserve, a major sporting ground in Mornington, has secured almost $5 million in funding from the Federal Government to upgrade its facilities.
The funding was secured through the Federal Government’s Thriving Suburbs Program.
Federal Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie, together with Chris Crewther, Member for Mornington – met with many of the schools and local sporting clubs that utilise the reserve during the 2022 federal election campaign to understand their need for greater support, and inspect the surface.
These sporting clubs, including the Mornington Soccer Club and Beleura Junior Sports Club, will benefit from upgraded soccer pitches, club parking, lighting, pathway and fencing infrastructure.
The Mornington Peninsula Shire has committed $1 million towards the $6 million overall project, with the construction of the AFL oval completed in April.
The Reserve’s existing soccer pitches suffer from poor surface and soil conditions, as well as poor drainage.
This contribution of $4,741,275 in Commonwealth funding is essential to ensure the playing fields can cope with a high level of sports use.
The addition of a new car park will also help greatly with increasing the capacity and accessibility of the sports precinct.
Federal Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie, commented that “with greater interest now than ever in soccer, an upgrade to the Dallas Brooks Reserve’s soccer pitches is desperately needed.”
“Following the success of the Matildas at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, there was an 18% increase in girls’ participation in soccer nationally, and our local sports clubs have seen this reflected in record membership.
The Mornington Peninsula deserves Premier League quality sports grounds, to facilitate programs such as the Liverpool Football Club International Academy, which is a partnership with local school Padua College and will be a huge draw-card for soccer loving families and new recruits to the beautiful game.
Not only will this funding allow for more Mornington Peninsula residents to pick up soccer recreationally, with all the social and health benefits that entails, but it will give our athletes the best possible chance to advance to a professional level.”
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