FAQs
- business owner
- school community
- sporting clubs
- yoga group
- mothers' group
- CFA
- local community member
Why is the Recreation Reserve and Community Hall in Sarsfield being upgraded?
The Sarsfield community was heavily impacted by the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires. 49% of the land area was burnt and 77 dwellings were destroyed. Residents lost power and telecommunications, and more than 130 residents were displaced.
The Sarsfield Hall became an essential refuge for the Sarsfield community immediately following the bushfires. The Sarsfield Hall committee supported residents with relief efforts as they emerged from their homes seeking advice, clean water, a friendly face, and someone to talk to.
After Sarsfield Community Association's application for National Summer Bushfire Recovery funding was deemed ineligible due to a technicality, they were then promised funding through the Community Development Grants program, only to see that program axed following the election and all applications reassessed.
In early 2023, the Sarsfield Community Association partnered with Council to resubmit the funding application to build a brand-new community hall and develop a new community space which includes a children's playground, walking and cycling trail, picnic areas, and gathering spaces.
On Thursday 6 April, Mayor Mark Reeves and council officers accompanied the Hon Kristy McBain, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and the Territories to the Sarsfield Recreation Reserve to meet with community representatives. Minister McBain was pleased to announce that the funding agreement to deliver $3.6million has been finalised.
It has been a long and emotional journey for the Sarsfield community. The announcement on 6 April will see Council manage the project design and delivery whilst working closely with the Sarsfield Community.
Who is funding the project?
The budget for this project is provided by the Australia Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
Who is on the Project Reference Group?
A Project Reference Group (PRG) will be established to help guide this project moving forward. If you are interested in joining the PRG to represent your community, please contact the Project Supervisor at feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au or call 03 5153 9500.
The PRG will provide a representative viewpoint on the design options and will be included on communications of detailed design. The group is selected with the intention of forming a representative section of the most significant interests that will use or appreciate the area, and to facilitate community involvement in identifying problems and evaluating solutions.
Reference Group members will contribute both local and technical knowledge about issues that are relevant to the project and provide representation for a variety of stakeholder interests.
We are looking to find a diverse group of individuals to work together to get the best result for the community. For the Sarsfield Recreation Reserve PRG, we are looking for representatives from each of the following interest groups -
When will construction commence?
Council does not have a confirmed date for construction at this stage, but it is anticipated construction will be completed by the end of 2025. It is our intention is to keep community informed throughout the delivery of this project.