AVENUES for external funding are being sought in order to progress masterplans for Wangaratta's 'parklands' and Wareena Park areas.
The Wangaratta Parklands Masterplan (which covers the Wangaratta Showgrounds, Norm Minns Oval, WJ Findlay Oval, and the Barr Reserve including the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre) and the Wareena Park Masterplan were both adopted by the Rural City of Wangaratta last year.
Rural City of Wangaratta director infrastructure services Marcus Goonan said a significant amount of external funding would be required to enable council to complete the works outlined in the two master plans.
"We received quite a bit of funding to do the extension works at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre, and we will continue to work through funding streams as they become available for other opportunities," he said.
The WSAC extension will be undertaken using $5.46 million from the State Government's Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, a grant announced earlier this year, which will enable a major upgrade to basketball facilities and courts at the centre.
Latest Stories
Council will contribute an additional $3 million, making it an $8 million project, with work expected to be completed in early 2023.
The stadium's first upgrade since 1976, the project will involve construction of two additional multi–purpose sports courts, an upgraded show court with additional stadium seating, expansion of the gym to double its current size, and improved accessibility to existing change rooms and amenities within the facility.
Mr Goonan said other priority projects within the masterplan were upgrades to Bill O'Callaghan Oval (Barr 1), to the events space (Barr Reserve rodeo ground); and to the Norm Minns Oval.
"They are all going to require external funding," he said.
He said recent work on the Showgrounds Cloak Rooms, at the Gray Street entrance to the venue, was part of efforts to maintain and renew the building, which will be retained as part of the masterplan as a secondary entrance.
The main entrance to the venue, at the intersection of Green and Evans Streets, is in line for rejuvenation under the masterplan.
Mr Goonan said recent drainage works undertaken at the showgrounds were regularly scheduled works, following drainage issues experienced with Norm Minns Oval six months ago.
"With Wareena Park, we have applied for a couple of grants, particularly for the community hub building," he said.
"We are certainly in a good position, with these masterplans developed, to attract funding when it becomes available."
The 10 year Wareena Park Masterplan takes in the former Olympic Pool site, Wareena Park Oval, Coronation Kindergarten, and Wareena Park Bowls Club.
Plans for the space include a community hub, which would provide a long–awaited home for the Wangaratta Senior Citizens Club, and incorporate a seniors exercise area, intergenerational play space, and an event lawn for small gatherings.
There are also plans to upgrade the oval, and to construct a new sports pavilion overlooking the ground.
Mr Goonan said designs for the community hub building and sports pavilion had been completed, and council hoped to hear the result of its Wareena Park funding applications around the end of November – though he added that some funding announcement timelines had been delayed during the pandemic.
Both the Wareena Park Masterplan and Wangaratta Parklands Masterplan can be viewed on the Rural City of Wangaratta website.
