Merrigum courts drought funding for redevelopment

SHOOTING FOR BETTER... Merrigum Football Netball Club committee member, Nathan Pell, Federal Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum, Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Seema Abdullah, club members Rachael Rowe and Ian Richards at the Merrigum Recreation Reserve. Photo: Supplied.
SHOOTING FOR BETTER… Merrigum Football Netball Club committee member, Nathan Pell, Federal Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum, Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Seema Abdullah, club members Rachael Rowe and Ian Richards at the Merrigum Recreation Reserve. Photo: Supplied.

MERRIGUM netballers are set to benefit from a $350,000 Federal Government grant to upgrade the netball courts at the Merrigum Recreation Reserve.

The redevelopment is one of a raft of projects in Greater Shepparton to become a reality thanks to $1 million of Federal Government Drought Communities Program (DCP) funding that targets regions that have experienced economic hardship due to recent drought.

Other projects to receive funding are:

  • Upgrade of the tennis courts at Katandra West
  • Construction of a new walking path at Tallygaroopna
  • Construction of a new walking and cycling path at Tatura

Merrigum’s club representative on the Merrigum Recreation Reserve committee, Nathan Pell, said the project had been in the pipeline for about nine years.

The club, which plays in the Kyabram District Football Netball League, has two netball courts, however only one is match-compliant. The redevelopment will see the club have a second playable court.

“With the expansion of the league to eight teams, a second court will mean we can fit more matches into a more reasonable time frame,” he said.

The project is jointly funded with a contribution from the Greater Shepparton City Council.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Seema Abdullah said, “This $1 million will see exciting new developments right across our innovative and bold region.”

She added, “As part of this funding, a series of events will be held, in line with the relevant COVID-19 restrictions, to support health and wellbeing and information sharing in relation to water security, technology and drought recovery.”

The Moira Shire last month announced nine projects that it will deliver with its $1 million of DCP funding.

These include an extension to Numurkah Skate Park and the installation of a permanent outdoor gym at Nathalia parklands.