Craig Ondarchie, the Government Member for Northern Metropolitan Region in the Victorian Parliament, together with the Chief Executive Officer of Hockey Victoria, Ben Hartung recently visited the La Trobe University Hockey Club facilities at KP Hardiman Reserve in Bundoora (both pictured left).
Mr Ondarchie and Mr Hartung inspected the ground and ageing change room facilities and noted the pressing need for new facilities.
“We greatly appreciated Craig Ondarchie and Ben Hartung coming out to the ground and seeing first hand the poor state of the change facilities, lack of car park lighting and lack of player spectator shelter.” Club President Zac Martin said.
“Craig has a long history in helping grass roots sport and we really appreciated the time he took to inspect our ageing facilities. Ben is a great CEO of Hockey Victoria and we were very happy that he could provide Craig with key information about hockey participation rates and lack of facilities in Melbourne’s North.”
The La Trobe University Hockey Club has been working since 2008 on securing new hockey facilities as part of a new Sports precinct at La Trobe University. The facilities currently being used at KP Hardiman Reserve are in desperate need of replacement. There are no separate change facilities for women, no car park lighting, spectator shelter or adequate kitchen facilities.
“I appreciated the opportunity to visit the La Trobe University Hockey Club facilities at KP Hardiman. The club has a strong mix of female and junior members and many from different multicultural backgrounds. They have a strong business case for new facilities and I will continue to support them in the development of a community based, multi-use sports precinct at La Trobe University.” Craig Ondarchie said.
“La Trobe University Hockey Club is one of our key clubs in Melbourne’s north. The club has invested a great deal of time and energy in establishing quality junior programs as well as improving the performances of their senior teams in recent years. They are reaping the benefits of population growth in the area however it is essential that new facilities are developed to cater for this growth, in particular facilities that appropriately service the large female membership of the club which are currently completely lacking.” Ben Hartung said.
“Hockey Victoria strongly endorses the Club’s strategic plans to upgrade facilities because of the direct and positive impact that this would have on the growth of the sport in Melbourne’s north.”