Thursday, 23 March 2023

 Martin CAMERON (Morwell) (09:47): The Traralgon Recreation Reserve, which is home to the Traralgon Football Netball Club, Ex-Students Cricket Club, Traralgon Bridge Club, Traralgon men’s shed, Traralgon fire brigade, TEDAS Junior Football Club and roller derby experienced the brunt of a major flood back in mid-2021. The flood that hit without any warning whatsoever had a major impact on the town, houses around the recreation reserve, a major shopping centre and an accommodation venue, but in particular it decimated the user groups of the rec reserve. For nearly two years the change rooms and canteen have stood frozen in time as the government has been unable to fund the demolition and rebuild of the facility. Works are finally scheduled to begin at some stage this year, but the current allocated funding falls a long way short of being able to provide new secure homes for the user groups. The Traralgon Football Netball Club play in a major league competition in Gippsland and currently get changed in flood-affected facilities with no male or female football–netball amenities or proper change rooms. The men’s shed also currently hold their breath every time a major rain event is happening, with the equipment used by all in the men’s shed still very much vulnerable to being destroyed again with another flood. In the upcoming budget the user groups call on the government to commit the further funds, approximately $8 million, still needed to complete the total build, securing the future of all user groups of the Traralgon Recreation Reserve going forward.