The Buchan Recreation Reserve will receive a $4.2 million facelift after an additional $3 million in bushfire recovery funding was secured this week.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester (pictured) said he had been advised by Bushfire Recovery Victoria that an additional $3 million would be added to the $1.2 million announced last week by East Gippsland Shire Council.
“After the disappointment of missing out on funding in a grant program just over a month ago, this is a massive win for the community,” Mr Chester said.
“I have been working behind the scenes with Buchan community leaders, East Gippsland Shire Council and Tim Bull MP to secure additional funding for a much-needed redevelopment of facilities at the recreation reserve.
“We have now secured an extra $3 million in a bushfire recovery grant, on top of the $1.2 million from the Federal Government’s ‘Local Roads and Community Infrastructure’ fund.
“That means we have $4.2 million available in Buchan to build a new community pavilion with proper toilets and showers for players and officials, along with a new netball and tennis court facility.
“Further stages to flood-proof the football ground are also being planned which we will work on together to achieve additional funding.”
Mr Chester said the project would complement government funding that had already been secured for the town streetscape and Buchan Caves Reserve.
“It’s been a long and hard recovery process and now we are starting to see the benefits of the community working together to develop local priorities,” Mr Chester said.
“It’s a great example of all levels of government working in partnership and listening to the community… it might have taken longer than we all wanted but it’s big step forward in the recovery process.
“Thanks to everyone involved including the Bushfire Recovery Victoria and National Resilience and Recovery Agency staff who worked constructively to achieve this result for a facility that is an essential hub of sporting and community life.
“After early disappointments, we now need to harness the same positive community spirit to get the project delivered in a timely fashion. Well done to all the volunteers who helped to get this result.”
