East Gippsland Shire Council has welcomed the imminent start of work on a $964,000 project at Buchan Recreation Reserve that will create multi-use sporting courts for tennis, basketball and netball.

The project forms part of Council’s support to upgrade and revitalise the reserve with better sporting and community facilities and create the conditions that allow communities such as Buchan to thrive.

Works will commence later this year following the awarding of the construction contract at the Tuesday 25 June 2024 Council Meeting.

“The community’s efforts to revitalise their town’s facilities will be rewarded with the construction of two new fit-for-purpose sports courts, comprising two tennis courts overlaid with netball and basketball court markings, and equipped with floodlighting, encouraging greater participation in sport and other events,” Mayor Cr Tom Crook said.

“The Buchan Recreation Reserve upgrade is an identified community priority and we acknowledge the local community members and Project Reference Group in their pursuit of this key milestone,” Cr Crook said. “We’re excited about the commencement of construction. This will play a vital role in improving community resilience and social wellbeing to help the Buchan community recover and rebuild from impacts of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

“Council is committed to rolling out projects that enrich the environment, lifestyle and character of our communities in innovative ways to deliver what our communities need affordably and responsibly.”

The new courts are the first component of the Buchan Recreation Reserve Masterplan to be delivered. In addition to boosting community engagement through participation in organised sport, the masterplan aims to deliver a community hub with integrated emergency response capabilities to bolster community resilience.

Council’s ongoing collaboration with the Buchan community and Project Reference Group has already progressed the concept to the detailed design stage for a sports pavilion and pony club shed.

The reserve redevelopment will provide further opportunity for people to connect and engage in social and physical activity, building social ties and improving physical and mental health.

Construction details and timing will be shared on Council’s YourSay East Gippsland website.

This project is funded by the Australian and Victorian governments under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, in conjunction with Council, Emergency Recovery Victoria and Sport and Recreation Victoria.