Bellarine’s tiniest towns are becoming even better places to live, work, stay and play thanks to funding for community-building projects.
Three new Bellarine projects received grants of between $5000 and $50,000 through round two of the state government’s Tiny Towns Fund to help communities with less than 5000 people flourish.
Point Lonsdale Basketball Club will be able to resurface its basketball court at Point Lonsdale Primary School through the grant.
President Ben Van Doren said the upgrades would create a safer environment for the club’s members.
“Currently our club in Point Lonsdale has no indoor facilities at all for basketball or indoor sports whatsoever,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries with grazed knees and young girls not wanting to play basketball or train because they get injured, so we’re at a real disadvantage to other clubs.
“The court is all asphalt, so it’s basically like a cheese grater when you land on it; it’s pretty abrasive. I’m not sure how old they are, but it’s a really rough surface to play on and very slippery when it’s wet.”
Bellarine Railway received funding to restore and upgrade its historic DAV carriage to support people living with disabilities. President Jake Gonzalez Prudden said the carriage’s restoration would be “transformative”.
“We are committed to ensuring families and friends with accessibility needs can enjoy the same experiences as any other visitor on all our services,” he said.
“The DAV Carriage’s upgraded and updated capabilities will ensure the railway continues to offer inclusive and enjoyable experiences through its heritage services and special events.”
The Tiny Towns Fund will also help the Bellarine Catchment Network run programs to encourage and upskill volunteers in caring for coastal communities.
Jena Carr
