BACCHUS Marsh netballers could be out of the mud and into new changerooms next season.
Maddingley Park’s committee of management will receive $30,000 from Moorabool Council to transform an old pump house near the netball courts.
Chairwoman Margaret Scarff said the committee was seeking volunteers to donate time and materials to help refurbish the “derelict” building.
At present, netballers have nowhere to change. They have two old bush shelters in which to store their gear and often traipse through mud during wet weather.
“There’s nothing there [to properly change in],” Ms Scarff said. “I’d been told by a member of the club that the conditions were appalling and there are health and safety issues, so the committee took on the challenge.”
A working group will create a design plan and get costings.
Ms Scarff said the council had agreed to build a shelter alongside the court for players and spectators.
Council chief executive Rob Croxford said the scheduling of work on the site was dependent on technical assessments and consultation with the committee and user groups.
“We will also be pursuing grant opportunities to leverage the council funds with the aim of maximising the outcomes for all user groups,” he said.
A Netball Victoria spokeswoman said the club could access funding through a country football-netball program.
“Bacchus Marsh Netball Club has been a recipient of this funding previously and part of that contributed to redevelopment of the netball court,” she said.
“If the club were at a point to look at another project, Netball Victoria would be happy to discuss that and work with the council in regards to overall priorities within this funding program and among other clubs.”
The council has also announced $60,000 to upgrade courts at Bacchus Marsh Lawn Tennis Club.
