30 Oct 2018 Whittlesea Review, Whittlesea (General News) A $1.3 million upgrade to netball facilities at Harley Hammond reserve is being brought forward thanks to 1500,000 from the Victorian Governments Female Facilities Change our Ciame fund which was announced last week. Council had earmarked 156,000 in the 2018/19 budget for planning and will now be able to progress this substantially further. The project includes the redevelopment of two netball courts, lighting and a multi-use pavilion. Including much-needed change rooms. Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said the facilities would be a welcome addition and would hopefully encourage more young people and women to play sport. These upgrades will encourage more people to take up sport including young girls and women who are under-represented in sports compared to their male counterparts, Cr Sanderson said. Active communities are healthier, happier, well connected and more resilient. We hope these new facilities will encourage more people to take up sport and develop healthy habits for life. Cr Sanderson thanked the Victorian Government for their support and said she looked forward to working with the Committee of Management, clubs and players to develop the plans further. Council works closely with our Committees of Management and clubs who work so hard to manage, maintain and improve facilities and provide sport and recreation opportunities for our community. Cr Sanderson said. We cant do it alone and we are very grateful for the support we have received from the Victorian Government for sport and recreation projects across the Shire in recent years. Id also like to thank Jaclyn Symes MP for her support in securing this funding. Well now work with Committee of Management and the user groups to ensure the best possible outcomes for neiballand tennis. We look forward to developing the plans in more detail and discussing next steps.