Sheed pledges support for Shepparton Sports Stadium redevelopment

By Anna McGuinness

Nov 16, 2022

Play ball: Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed with Shepparton Gators players Jordan Michel and Matt Bartlett. Photos: Anna McGuinness. Photo by Anna McGuinness

Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed will seek funding for a new Shepparton Sports Stadium if re-elected.

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The $60 million redevelopment of the stadium is listed as Greater Shepparton City Council’s second highest election priority — behind the bypass in first spot.

“The sports stadium has served us well up to now but with Shepparton growing as a sporting hub we need to build a modern sports centre,” Ms Sheed said.

“Greater Shepparton City Council has completed its designs for the new centre but needs support from the Victorian and Federal governments and I will knock on as many doors as it takes to make this project proposal become a reality.”

The redevelopment would increase the number of multi-use courts from four to six, including one show court with 3000 seats, new amenities and an administration hub.

Joint effort: C4GS chief executive Linda Nieuwenhuizen, Shepparon Gators’ Matt Bartlett, City for Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali, Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed, C4GS chair Leigh Findlay and Shepparton Gators’ Jordan Michel at the Shepparton Sports Stadium on Wednesday. Photo by Anna McGuinness

Committee for Greater Shepparton chair Leigh Findlay said there were some local basketball clubs that were unable to run trainings because of a lack of courts.

“The other thing is there are tournaments that come to the region that bring lots of people into town, but they end up getting displaced all over, I think they’re playing games in Nagambie and Tatura,” Mr Findlay said.

“For Shepparton to continue to be a go-to destination we really need a great stadium.”

The stadium was also unable to be used as an evacuation centre during the October floods due to it being built below the flood level.

As well as sport, the centre could be used to host major music and arts events.

“All it takes is an acoustically sound venue of this size to be included in major artists’ tour dates, and this would bring new musical opportunities to the region,” local events co-ordinator Jamie Lea said.

Earlier in November, the Victorian Coalition pledged $20 million for the redevelopment if it was elected.

This would require $25 million from the Federal Government and Greater Shepparton City Council chipping in $15 million.

Ms Sheed said she would be able to persuade whatever government was in power to fund the project.

“Let me remind you in 2014 no-one was coming here making any promises, it’s only because we’re a marginal seat with an independent that we’ve had a single promise from the Coalition,” she said.