Horsham City Bowling Club president Stewart Landwehr says the club is finding it easier to maintain its facilities following an upgrade worth $247,000.
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The club has added a second synthetic bowling green with $105,000 of support from Horsham Rural City Council and the state government.
Victoria's Sport, Tourism and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula visited the club on Thursday to officially announce the funding, along with five other projects the government co-funded in Horsham, Nhill, Natimuk and Dimboola.
"It takes the work out of preparing the grass," Mr Landwehr said.
"We've got one (grass green) left, which we'll probably eventually not use, but there is a lot of work in that - so (a synthetic green) reduces the workload and once it's paid for, it reduces the cost dramatically. That's important because our members are getting older."
Mr Landwehr said the club had 100 members. The government contribution also helped fund new irrigation and a drainage system for the remaining grass green.
Other Wimmera projects the government contributed to under the Community Sports Infrastructure Fund and Country Football Netball Program include:
- New lighting at Natimuk United Football Netball Club to meet standards for AFL training and competition;
- Reconstruction of two netball/tennis courts at Horsham's Central Park;
- Construction of two new netball/tennis courts at Kalkee Tennis Club;
- Construction of the Jaypex skate park in Nhill; and
- Construction of new female-friendly facilities at Dimboola Football Netball Club.
Mr Pakula said he hoped the competitors could enjoy the contribution the government had made.
While in Horsham, Mr Pakula said he also met with Horsham council over its draft City to River masterplan, which includes major changes to Horsham City Oval and a new multi-purpose indoor sports stadium.
"(The plan) will be something government and the council will engage with one another over in the next couple of years," he said.
"Today was the first time the council had talked to me specifically about that. I've indicated to them that my department - through Sport and Recreation Victoria and Regional Development Victoria - should continue to work with council on plans for that stadium. When those plans are more fully developed, we'll have another conversation."
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