Funding for Harrow sporting redevelopment
Published on 29 November 2022
West Wimmera Shire Council has received more than $700,000 from the State Government to complete vital sporting upgrades at the Harrow and District Recreation Reserve.
The works will include the redevelopment of netball and tennis courts and lighting at the recreation reserve.
This will involve demolition and removal of the current non-compliant and unsafe courts, followed by construction of two new netball courts and three new tennis courts.
This project will also include construction of new fencing and accessible footpaths.
Council was successful in its grant application to the State Government’s 2022 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund to create female-friendly facilities in Harrow.
Council will receive $738,945 from the State Government. Council will contribute $196,316 and the Harrow Recreation Reserve will contribute $50,000 which they have received through donations.
The total cost of the project is $985,000.
Council will work with the clubs to ensure there is minimum disruption to these sports during the construction period.
Council Chief Executive David Bezuidenhout welcomed the funding.
“The project will ensure that both tennis and netball can continue to be played in the town,” he said.
“It will also encourage more female participation and sporting opportunities in Harrow.
“We look forward to working with the Harrow community on this project.”
The current facilities at the recreation reserve provide unsuitable playing conditions for both tennis and netball.
The upkeep of these courts is also time-consuming for volunteers. Currently, each season the clubs will concrete over the tennis post holes on the courts, to make them safer for netball. At the end of each netball season, volunteers must then bore out the concrete ready for tennis.
The proposed upgrade has new courts that are designed and fitted with cover plates. This will support both sports, without the drain on volunteer resources.
This upgrade will also complement the $1-million investment made by the state government into the new change rooms and facilities, which were opened in 2021.