New $13.5 million indoor sports facility opens on Victoria’s Surf Coast

Surf Coast Shire Council has welcomed the opening of its long-awaited multipurpose indoor Wurdi Baierr Stadium.

Located in the community and civic precinct in the north of Torquay, the new $13.5 million facility was created by adding three courts to an existing single-court stadium at Surf Coast Secondary College.

While not yet officially opened, the Wurdi Baierr Stadium now offers four courts, a cafe, meeting rooms, change facilities, all abilities design features and additional car parking.

Fitness and dance classes are already operating in the venue with basketball, netball, futsal, badminton, volleyball, kinder gym and school use set to follow.

To fund the new facility, Surf Coast Shire Council received $5 million from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund and $3 million from the Victorian Government’s Better Indoor Stadiums Fund.

Advising that the project was the biggest project ever undertaken by the Council, Surf Coast Shire Mayor, Libby Stapleton stated “partnership projects like this bring so many benefits for locals and visitors

“As we emerge from the pandemic, gathering places are going to be so important in connecting us all and keeping us active.

“This is going to be a much-loved community facility that I know will get plenty of use.”

The facility’s name means, which means ‘big gathering place’ in Wadawurrung was chosen at the Council’s May 2020.

Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation created a short-list of four stadium names which were considered by key people involved in the project, including Surf Coast Secondary College and Victorian Government representatives. Wurdi Baierr Stadium was the preferred name.

Images: Surf Coast Shire Council's new Wurdi Baierr Stadium (top and below) and fitness classes at the new facility (middle).