mmg.com.au

Rochester Recreation Reserve is to have almost $100,000 spent on it to repair the football club change rooms which were extensively damaged in January 2011’s flood.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller and Member for Northern Victoria Damian Drum announced $97,554.60 for the major works before the Water to Wickets Twenty20 cricket match on Sunday.

The money will be made available through the Victorian Government’s $30million Flood Recovery for Community Infrastructure Fund.

Mr Weller said the funding would go a long way towards helping the people of Rochester get back on their feet after the devastating flood event.

‘‘There was significant damage to the Rochester Recreation Reserve and throughout 80 per cent of the town, and these funds will kick-start the major refurbishment works planned for the site,’’ he said.

‘‘To date, more than $51,000 has been awarded to the Rochester Recreation Reserve Committee of Management to help clean up and repair damaged fencing, however this additional funding will allow the committee to repair the football club rooms, bringing them back to the appropriate standard for our local teams and visitors.

‘‘Recreation facilities are vital to the community’s physical and social well-being and all user groups at this site are integral in keeping community sport and recreation alive and well in Rochester.’’

He said the Water to Wickets Twenty20 match was the perfect platform to announce the funding.

According to Campaspe Shire flood recovery officer and Water to Wickets committee member Jordan Tamblyn, Rochester ‘‘is set to boast one of the best recreation reserve facilities in the state on completion of the works, thanks to this much needed funding’’.

Many individuals and groups had been involved with attaining the funding, including the Rochester Recreation Reserve Committee, the Flood Recovery Committee, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, the Major Events Committee and Campaspe Shire, he said.

Rochester Recreation Reserve Committee member Alan Darbyshire was heavily involved in the grant application process with the Department of Sustainability and Environment and praised the announcement for what was ‘‘sorely needed’’ funding.

‘‘We are very thrilled with the announcement of the funding, which we have been working on for 12 months now and we are very grateful,’’ Mr Darbyshire said.

Mr Darbyshire and the Recreation Reserve Committee worked closely with the DSE in negotiating the funding and was thankful for its help and support, along with Mr Tamblyn’s hard work and determination to secure the funding.

According to Mr Darbyshire, works had already begun at the recreation reserve to have everything up and running in time for the start of the football season.

Mr Weller congratulated the organisers of the Water to Wickets cricket event and said he looked forward to future community events at the recreation reserve.