$5.3 million funding announced for upgrade of Bairnsdale's WORLD Sporting Precinct

East Gippsland Shire Council has announced funding of $5.3 million for the planned WORLD Sporting Precinct upgrade in Bairnsdale which when fully constructed will support over 750 netballers, 630 football players and 50 hockey players.

Funding support for the project is coming from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund with Mayor John White thanking the Federal Government and adding “this is a significant day for this project, led by East Gippsland Shire Council, and the future of community sport in Bairnsdale and East Gippsland. 

Mayor White said Council is seeking matching funding from the Victorian Government to progress the important project and noted “the site will also provide an opportunity for students from throughout the district to utilise these much-improved facilities for carnivals and inter-school sports events. It will build on the great history the precinct has had since opening in 1984 and will continue to be one of the most highly used recreational facilities in East Gippsland.

This $10.7 million project will include:

• An upgraded pavilion for hockey and netball user groups

• New lighting and amenities for the main hockey pitch

• An eight-court regional level netball facility. Four courts will be marked for both futsal and netball

• A footballprecinct that includes a dedicated pavilion and two pitches with lighting

• Associated car parking

• New walkways and connections to the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre and Bairnsdale Secondary College

Mayor White also noted that “in 2018 Council completed the Bairnsdale Sporting Facilities Plan. This large project looked at the current sporting facilities in Bairnsdale, and their user groups, to determine what facilities will be needed in the future for current and emerging sporting groups.

“Through this work, the WORLD Sporting Precinct was identified as a key hub to meet the growing needs of active sport and recreation for all East Gippslanders. The specific sporting infrastructure needed at this precinct; however, was either non-existent or of a very poor standard.

“The Bairnsdale Sporting Facilities Plan involved a lot of consultation with many user groups and committees. In fact, it even received a state (Victoria and Tasmania) Parks and Leisure Regional Award and was a finalist for a national award.

“The support of the community to work with council on that strategic plan has been integral to the success of our funding application. It is fantastic to see all that collaborative work start paying off.

“It will be a great day when the project is complete, and the Bairnsdale Netball Association and Bairnsdale Hockey Club are joined by East Gippsland United Football Club and Bairnsdale Soccer Club (futsal) at the precinct.”

The East Gippsland Shire Council's concept for the WORLD Sporting Precinct in Bairnsdale envisages it becoming one of the main community sporting precincts in the region.

As of November last years, the contract to develop its detailed design was awarded to Thomson Adsett Pty Ltd.

Image of plans for WORLD Sporting Precinct