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Sport and Recreation | October 31, 2022

New greens for Dimboola Bowling Club

The Nationals have committed to providing the funding necessary for the Dimboola Bowling Club to replace their damaged bowling greens if elected to government in November.

The commitment was announced by the Member for Lowan and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Emma Kealy during a visit to the club on Saturday.

The club’s existing greens have been badly damaged by corellas, with cost estimates to repair the damage approximately $140,000 – well beyond the capacity of a small club of 65 members.

A $140,000 grant will see the current damaged greens replaced with a new synthetic grass surface that the club can use all year-round, in all conditions.

“The Dimboola Bowling Club is a progressive club and a popular meeting place in town, hosting both Saturday matches and also a very popular night social bowls competition each summer,” Ms Kealy said.

“Despite their best efforts, the club has been unsuccessful in obtaining state government funding support to replace their damaged greens.

“The Andrews Labor Government has failed to recognise that families in rural Victoria deserve access to quality sporting facilities just as much as families living in Melbourne.

“Last year just 13.4 per cent of the state’s infrastructure spend was directed to rural and regional Victoria, and only 11 per cent the year before.

“In contrast, the Nationals are committed to supporting grassroots sport in rural and regional Victoria.

“With 25 per cent of Victoria’s population living in rural and regional Victoria, we deserve no less than 25 per cent of the state’s new infrastructure budget.

“That’s why if elected to government in November, the Nationals’ will introduce a Regional Infrastructure Guarantee that will ensure rural and regional Victorians get their fair share of infrastructure funding, so projects like a new synthetic bowling green for the Dimboola Bowling Club can become a reality.”