User groups across Traralgon were jumping for joy after the Federal Government announced it would foot the $300,000 needed to complete the central pavilion at the Traralgon West Sporting Complex.
Member for Gippsland Darren Chester was at the complex on Thursday and said its completion was long overdue.
“This is fantastic news for all the people who use the Traralgon West Sporting Complex to finally fit out this magnificent pavilion,” Mr Chester said.
The complex is home to multiple user groups and organisations including the Traralgon West Cricket Club, West End Junior Football Club and the Traralgon Harriers.
Stage one of the two-storey facility was opened in 2011, however, development of the top level had stalled due to a lack of funding.
Mr Chester was shown the unfinished state of the pavilion last year and said he “couldn’t believe it wasn’t finished yet”.
“Being able to secure the $300,000 from the federal government is a real breakthrough and I can’t wait to see it finished,” he said.
“We’re going to see works start here as soon as possible and we’ve got the main structure and it’s a challenge now to work with council to get contractors on site as soon as possible.
“This is a fantastic facility which has been under-utilised because it hasn’t been finished.”
The funding was provided under the $20 million Latrobe Valley Local Jobs and Infrastructure Package through the federal government’s Community Development Grants programme.
Traralgon West Cricket Club president Sam Varsaci, who has been rallying for the facility to be finished for close to a decade, said he was “elated the end is in sight”.
“This is a huge relief for us as a club. As a user of the facility, it means for us, we’ve got a facility here that can be usable,” Varsaci said.
“Until this time it has been an empty space that hasn’t been utilised to the extent it could be.”
He said he had been waiting for what “feels like forever” for the completion of the pavilion and said it would soon allow user groups to operate to their full potential.
“There’s been a lot of people behind this who will have the same elation and it’s the news we’ll be able to tell our members and I’m sure they’ll be very happy,” he said.
“To have an end in sight and see this facility – it will be a nice day to actually sit here and enjoy watching sport.”
