Newbridge club gets security boost
THE Newbridge Football and Netball Club is getting back on its feet, with help from the state government.
Crime Prevention Minister Andrew McIntosh was in Newbridge this week to award the club a $10,000 community safety fund grant.
The money will be used by the club to install lighting, fencing, screens and a security system at the Newbridge Community Multi-function Facility.
The football netball club is in the process of rebuilding after floodwater caused more than $2 million damage in January last year.
The flood-affected clubrooms were demolished in September and earthmoving at the site earmarked for the new building is expected to begin next week.
“I’m very pleased to be here in Newbridge to announce the first of those grants to the football and netball club to enable them to provide appropriate security facilities for their wonderful new facility,” Mr McIntosh said.
The football netball club has been operating out of portable classrooms since the floods hit in January.
Players have been training on home turf, but all games have been played at other grounds.
Newbridge Football and Netball club treasurer Dean Gordon said the grant money would be put to good use.
“As the minister’s mentioned we’ve got a brand new facility which is going to get built now,” he said.
“It’s just in the process of starting in the next few weeks, a lot of the preliminary work is already done.
“As a community we’ve got a brand new facility that we want to protect and the grant from the department helps us to fund that.
“Most people in the community do the right thing but because of our remote location we want to make sure we protect it from people who might not want to do the right thing.”
Mr McIntosh said community safety fund grants had been awarded to more than 150 community organisations across Victoria.
He said the grants were about finding community solutions for community problems.
“Through these grants, the Coalition Government is empowering communities to decide what’s best for them,” Mr McIntosh said.
“These facilities are the heart of our local communities, and are often managed by local volunteers, so crime and antisocial behaviour has a significant impact.”
Last Modified on 24/04/2012 11:20
