The Donald community precinct redevelopment has received about $1 million from the federal government and Buloke Shire Council.

The 40-year-old stadium is falling apart and the community is calling for $2.5 million to turn it into a community hub.

Committee chairman Danny Forrest said while the new funding won’t get the project underway, works were certainly getting closer.

“We’ve got about half a million dollars in drought funding from the federal government and the shire has also made a commitment of $500,000,” he said.

“The community will also make an donation through cash and in-kind labour of about a quarter of a million dollars.

“We won’t be able to start any work yet but we’ve jumped forward a fair way now.”

The project missed out on state government funding earlier in the year, despite being voted the most popular project on a government drought campaign website.

Mr Forrest said the stadium need major renovations.

“It’s the most used centre in the whole Buloke Shire,” he said.

“We want to change it away from a sport stadium and create a more user-friend building for the community to have meetings and conference.

“There aren’t any venues in town that can cater for more than 150 people at the moment.

“We want to double the floor space from what it is now – it will be a major project.”

Mr Forrest said the community supported the redevelopment.

“We don’t have a community gymnasium in town and we don’t have netball change rooms, so we are incorporating those as part of the redevelopment,” he said.

“It will also include a female umpires room, so we are trying to get lots of user groups involved.”

Mr Forrest said the money they had received so far would now be used as leverage for more grants.

“We will put the pressure on the state government to get a grant either through its sport and recreation fund or its regional development fund,” he said.

“We are going to keep pushing.

“The state government has been meeting with council, which has been really supportive.

“We’ve also had visits from politicians, who have seen the benefits this new centre will have.

“Now all we need is for someone to say yes.”