Game on as Liberals pledge $7 million to transform Inverloch-Kongwak clubrooms

A FUTURE Liberal Government has pledged $7 million to upgrade and modernise the player and spectator facilities at the Inverloch-Kongwak Football Netball Club.

Shadow Minister for Sport, Brad Battin told players and club members the major investment would breathe new life into the local sporting hub by replacing its dated, existing infrastructure with a state-of-the-art, two-storey clubhouse.

Designed to support inclusive participation, the brand-new pavilion will feature female-friendly change rooms, showers, and toilets for both home and away teams. It will also house dedicated umpire change rooms, medical first aid areas, a canteen, and a flexible multipurpose function and meeting space.

Spectators are set for a major upgrade too, with premium new viewing areas and the construction of formalised car parking around the edge of the field. Crucially, the design places a heavy focus on all-abilities accessibility, adding additional bathrooms and toilets to ensure the entire community can enjoy match days comfortably.

The transformation will directly benefit the club's 400 active members, alongside local school parents and diverse community groups who regularly share the space. In total, the project is expected to impact well over 700 to 800 local users.

Visiting the club this week with Liberal candidate for Bass Rochelle Halstead and Monash MP Mary Aldred, Mr Battin emphasised the vital role that local clubs play in regional communities during the announcement.

“This club deserves a modern, fit-for-purpose facility to support players and supporters alike,” Mr Battin said. “There is nothing like country sport, and under a Liberal Government we will ensure players and supporters have the modern facility they deserve.”

Mr Battin added that keeping young people connected to sport was one of the strongest drivers for positive social outcomes and reinforcing identity and belonging.

"Making sure this club is here for the future, and you guys are all part of the future, and building and leaving a legacy behind, hopefully, we can assist with supporting that," Battin said.

"We know the more kids we get involved in sports, the less they're involved in activities outside of sports and generally that ends up in a path we don't want them to go down."

"Female participation has grown significantly with more than 150 women and girls now playing netball here year-round," Mr Battin said. "We need facilities to support their participation. A Liberal Government will get this project done."

Liberal candidate for Bass, Rochelle Halstead, strongly welcomed the funding promise.

“This is a major win for the club who have already waited too long for a rebuild,” Ms Halstead said. “Inverloch-Kongwak Football and Netball Club is the lifeblood of the area. It’s where our kids play and the current facilities were built more than 40 years ago. We have more than 390 players across our football and netball club, and this investment is about delivering them the modern spaces they need and deserve.”

Ms Halstead praised Club President Peter Butcher and the committee for their relentless advocacy in securing the commitment. "It was great coming out during the finals and witnessing you all playing," Ms Halstead said. "The kids being involved in sport is really important in today's day and age especially.”

“Unbelievable,” was how the club president described the funding pledge.

“We’ve been advocating for this for the last 10 years. They visited the clubrooms to see first-hand how stretched the facilities are. Currently, the club supports 400 members and 600 children weekly, including 180 Auskick players,” said Mr Butcher.

The club fields eight West Gippsland netball sides, a dozen Wonthaggi competition sides and football teams ranging from Under-10s to Seniors, alongside Under-16 and Under-18 girls' teams.

The modernisation focuses on three core areas.

• Clubroom Modernisation: Complete structural upgrades to transform the existing, dated clubrooms into a state-of-the-art hub.

• Accessibility Upgrades: The installation of newly designed, all-abilities bathrooms and toilets to ensure inclusivity for all visitors.

• New Car Parks: Construction of sealed car parking around the edge of the playing field, resolving long-standing traffic issues.

After promising $7 million for new clubrooms at the Inverloch-Kongwak Football Netball Club Liberal candidate for Bass Rochelle Halstead joined Monash MP Mary Aldred in a kick of the football with the club's juniors.