I rise to speak about the Baillieu government’s non-funding of the Ocean Grove sports hub redevelopment, which is putting the survival of local sporting clubs in serious jeopardy. The previous Labor government promised $5 million for this redevelopment, the Gillard Labor government committed $2 million and the City of Greater Geelong is also committing to the project. Before the November election the coalition said it would support the redevelopment, but it has failed miserably to commit any funding.
The Surfside Waves Soccer Club president was recently quoted in the Ocean Grove Echo as stating that:
“We have a reduction in numbers this year, for the coming season, and I think for some people that is largely a result of getting sick of the lack of facilities.
We don’t have change rooms so players are getting changed in cars and, particularly for women, that’s just unsatisfactory.”
The member for Bellarine in the Assembly, Lisa Neville, presented a petition to the Parliament during the last sitting week with no fewer than 1200 signatures calling on the Baillieu government to fund this project in the May budget, but this fell on deaf ears once again. The people of Ocean Grove and Bellarine have been snubbed by this government, which has not committed one single cent to this important project.