$10 million pledge for Phillip Island sporting precinct

A $10 MILLION election commitment has been made towards the Phillip Island Recreation Reserve, as the Victorian Liberal Party promised to kickstart the project if they’re elected in November’s election.

Liberal candidate for Bass Rochelle Halstead made the announcement alongside Shadow Minister for Sport and former Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin at the Phillip Island Football Netball Club on Thursday, September 17.

The funding would be delivered over the first four years of a Liberal-led government, with Mr Battin saying a new football ground would be among the early priorities.

The commitment is conditional on the Coalition forming government at this year’s state election.

“So, the $10 million will be over the first four years,” Mr Battin said.

“We’ll work with the council on how that gets delivered in the best way.”

He said the party would meet with Bass Coast Shire Council to determine which parts of the project were ready to proceed and begin funding work as soon as possible.

“As soon as they’re ready, we’ll start funding it.”

Mr Battin said the intention behind the funding was for clubs to eventually have another ground to use, whether that’s for training or playing games.

“The clubs will have a ground to train on, and ready to play,” he said.

The Phillip Island Football Club has been publicly vocal about the stress its ground is under, which continues to struggle under heavy use.

Club president Chris Ross said 17 teams used the oval each week, and around 150 Auskick participants also use it on Friday nights.

The senior side even trained elsewhere during the finals because of the condition of the existing ground.

“We’re way overdue for it,” Mr Ross said.

“Our oval here just gets overused and it’s horrible.

“We just need somewhere else to go and train and give this a rest.”

The terminology can be confusing, but the future development is now known as the Phillip Island Sporting Precinct, while the Phillip Island Recreation Reserve Master Plan refers to the master plan adopted by Council in September 2023.

Work on detailed designs for Stage 1 is underway.

Council says that stage’s design work includes not just two football and cricket ovals, but four netball courts, a fenced off-leash dog park, parking and pathways.

Ms Halstead said the commitment from the Liberals would help get the project up and running.

“We’re really excited that this just kicks off the start,” she said.

She told the Sentinel-Times the long-term plan she was working from was valued at about $65 million and said further grants would likely be sought as the project progressed.

“That’s the long-term plan that the Bass Coast Shire Council is working on, and they will of course, I imagine, apply, keep applying for grants into the future,” she said.

Council’s current project page, however, lists the estimated cost of fully implementing the master plan at $115 million and says external funding will be required to deliver it.

Ms Halstead said she would keep pushing for more funding if she’s elected as the Member for Bass and wouldn’t let the project slip out of sight.

“I will be working with Brad and other members of the team to keep it on the radar,” she said.

“It is really well deserved for this club, and the community here has been waiting a long time for it.”

Mr Ross said the announcement was welcome news for a club that’s already “bursting at the seams”.

“It’s amazing,” he said.

“We just need it for our football and netball club, but more so the community.”

Mr Battin said he viewed investing in sporting facilities in a unique light.

“I don’t look at sports grounds as a cost, I look at it as an investment,” he said.

He said sporting clubs give struggling young people support and connection when they need it most.

“I’ve seen kids in sports clubs make mistakes, but the club gets around them, wraps their arms around them,” he said.

“I’ve seen clubs struggle with mental health, but the clubs get around them, and they really support their players.”