Matt Hewson
Geelong Ballroom Dance Club has welcomed a significant cash injection for upgrades to its facilities as part of the City of Greater Geelong’s community infrastructure and heritage grants.
The club will receive a $350,000 grant for the redevelopment of its Kendall room at Hamlyn Heights Reserve, which is just one of the 27 projects sharing in $2.67 million of community infrastructure funding from council.
The upgrades will include a new sprung hardwood dance floor, a kitchenette, meeting and office areas and improved accessibility features such as ramps.
The not-for-profit club, established in 1984, has around 120 members and holds multiple weekly dances, classes and events.
President Peter Dearnley said the club was “very, very grateful” the Geelong council had given the upgrades the go-ahead.
“The club has been around for 40 years, and probably we’ve been waiting for 20 years to have some basic upgrades to the building,” Mr Dearnley said.
“The building is owned by the City of Greater Geelong, so it’s nice that after our third try we’ve been rewarded with the grant.
“We’re not the only club that uses the space, so it also means the arts group and other clubs can better use the space we’ve got in those rooms.”
Other recipients of community infrastructure funding were Gaelic football and hurling club the Geelong Gaels, who received $350,000 for LED flood lighting at Hurst Reserve, the Lara Swimming Club ($220,000), Chilwell Community Garden ($69,000) and the Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway ($19,300).
Drysdale Football Club and the Geelong Rangers Soccer Club had infrastructure planning projects approved, worth $50,000 and $40,000, respectively.
Council also approved four heritage grants worth a total of $90,000, including $30,000 for the restoration of Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College’s Merrya Building and $10,000 for the restoration of Christ Church Anglican Parish Geelong.
High Performing Council chair Councillor Bruce Harwood said the community grants could make all the difference in getting projects off the ground.
“The 27 selected Community Infrastructure and four Geelong Heritage projects respond to a community need, and will improve the health, wellbeing and capacity of the community,” Cr Harwood said.
“There was stiff competition with the City receiving 56 applications, requesting funding support of more than $7.5 million.”
