The lack of funding for the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre, confirmed in The Courier, is a further example of the neglect of Ballarat by the Turnbull Government.
I understood the frustration of Basketball Ballarat chief executive, Peter Eddy, at the refusal so far to fund the proposed centre under the third round of the National Stronger Regions Fund.
This centre should be funded. Labor committed $5 million towards it during the Federal Election because I know how important it is for the city, not only the basketball community.
While the Turnbull Government makes Ballarat wait for funding with no guarantee any will be forthcoming, other parts of Victoria steal a march on us in terms of attracting major basketball and other events.
I again call on the Government to fund this project which is of national significance.
Sadly, the Ballarat basketball community is not alone in being left out in the cold on Stronger Regions Funding.
Not one Ballarat project has been funded through Stronger Regions under the Abbott-Turnbull Governments.
This neglect must end. It is time this Government started to treat Ballarat – one of the nation’s most significant and fastest growing regional cities – the region and the people who live here with respect.
FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2016