East Gippsland Shire Council will get the ball rolling on the much-needed upgrade of the Buchan Recreation Reserve.

In Buchan today, Deputy Mayor Cr Arthur Allen, on behalf of Mayor Cr Mark Reeves and Council, announced a $1.2 million contribution toward the upgrading of the reserve following the recent unsuccessful application to the Black Summer Grants program.

Council has allocated the $1.2 million from a Federal Government Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI) grant, and Council allocating the funding to Buchan spoke to the high priority of the project.

“We have heard the importance of providing a new pavilion, tennis/netball courts and other facilities and bringing these facilities up to standard and to make a sporting and community hub that is resilient to flooding that occurs in the area,” Cr Reeves said.

“The recreation reserve redevelopment is one of the priorities for bushfire recovery identified by the Buchan community through its Community Recovery Committee. We congratulate the committee on its tireless work to consult community and identify recovery priorities and in developing this project.

“Our contribution is significant in that the Buchan Recreation Reserve is not a Council facility and so it really reflects the importance of this project to the local community.

“What we provide is part of the bigger picture. We place a high value on the importance of programs like LCRI and we will continue our work advocating for significant funding programs like this. Projects like the recreation reserve upgrade help community recovery, build resilience for future events, and support our economy.”

The longevity of the recreation reserve as an all-weather facility is critical to the Buchan district for community sport, social gatherings and in times of emergency.

“The football and netball club, cricket, pony club and the Easter Buchan Gymkhana, tennis and primary school are the fabric of the community. They deserve sporting facilities that meet standards and are accessible to all,” Cr Reeves said

“We look forward to working with the Buchan community, the Victorian and Commonwealth governments and other funding partners to secure additional funding.”

Buchan, Gelantipy and Districts Renewal Association Chairperson, Kate Hodge said the $1.2m contribution from Council was a “great announcement”.

“It’s only the first instalment and now we need our state and federal governments to come to the party and be senior partners. Council’s funding gives us great impetus to get moving on the much-needed rebuilding. The challenge now is to find the remaining funding to get it over the line,” Ms Hodge said.

“Our reserve is a multi-use facility, is used daily and has five user groups year-round. It is very much the pulse and lifeblood of our community. Our community comes here to celebrate, to remember people, and in any form of emergency the reserve plays a role. Our new design will also reduce the risk of flooding.

“We were heavily impacted, flame affected, by the fires, we lost homes and lives and the rec reserve played a role housing the displace as a refuge centre. If we had a fire like we had again, it will come into play again.”

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester welcomed the Council’s decision and stressed he would pursue further grant opportunities.

“The Buchan community was directly impacted by the bushfires with lives and property lost across a traumatic summer,” Mr Chester said.

“I’ve met with Buchan community leaders and Council staff and we are fully supportive of efforts to secure additional funding to upgrade the recreation reserve as a hub for sporting and community life.

“This $1.2m announcement will help us leverage funding from other grant programs and I’m confident we can deliver a positive result for Buchan.”

A fully funded project would see the redevelopment of the reserve complete with new oval, courts, pavilion and horse yards.