The proposed redevelopment was voted the most popular idea on the state government’s OurSay drought campaign website.

However, the project did not receive funding last week as part of the government’s $10-million drought fund.

Donald community precinct redevelopment committee member Emma Vogel said the stadium was 40 years old and was falling apart.

“There are more than 20 leaks in the roof,” she said.

“If we didn’t have the dry conditions we have had the past few years, we would have had to cancel so many events.”

Ms Vogel said when it did rain, the community had to stop activities in the stadium every five or 10 minutes to mop up water.

She said the community had been working with Buloke Shire Council and Regional Development Victoria on the redevelopment.

“We want to turn the stadium into a community centre more than 30 service groups can use,” she said.

“It will not just be about sport and recreation, but we also want a place for art and culture.

“We want a space where we can have conferences and events. 

“There will also be a dance studio, a gymnasium and multi-purpose rooms for people to have meetings or classes.” Ms Vogel said a new stadium would be more family friendly, with a playroom for children.

“There is limited disabled access at the moment and the building is not up to occupational health and safety standards and sport regulation standards,” she said.

The proposed redevelopment would see the size of the stadium increase.

The proposal received more than 6300 votes on the OurSay website. 

“We were blown away by the support,” Ms Vogel said.

“It exceeded our expectations. Community centres, such as this one, are so important to small communities and help improve social cohesion.”

Ms Vogel said while the community was disappointed not to receive state government funding, they understood there were lots of good projects.

“This is a $2.5-million project, so there were no expectations for it to be fully funded,” she said. “There are also lots of other funding streams this project is eligible for and we will work towards that.”

Buloke Mayor Reid Mather said the government’s consultation program had created false hope.

“People expected there would be particular projects announced, as opposed to different funding streams, so I think that’s created some disappointment,” he said.

“The criticism that I’m hearing was that OurSay created an expectation.”