July 9th, 2024New sports precinct up and running at New Gisborne

The long-awaited Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct in New Gisborne is now open, unlocking
significant recreational and social benefits for the entire Macedon Ranges Shire area.

A culmination of decades of advocacy and planning by the council and the community, the precinct’s
$29-plus million first stage has delivered a three-court indoor sports hub, a natural turf oval with an adjoining sports pavilion and other facilities such as a playground, BBQ facilities and a fitness loop.

It will play host to a range of local user groups and sports including AFL, basketball, netball, badminton, volleyball and futsal, with facilities also available for hire for corporate or social functions to make the new precinct a true community space.

Victorian Government Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas were among those present in recent days to help open the new facilities.

They then toured the facilities alongside councillors and council staff, contractors, funding partners, primary user reference group members, other user groups and more.

Macedon Ranges Shire Mayor, Annette Death, said the precinct was the largest capital works project ever undertaken by the council, with the first stage made possible with generous funding support from the Victorian Government ($14.8 million), Melbourne Water ($377,590) and AFL Victoria ($100,000).

“The need for more indoor and outdoor recreational facilities in the region has long been identified in
our strategies, so we’re absolutely delighted to finally have a new state-of-the-art facility that will benefit our community for generations to come,” she said.

Along with the practical elements required of a modern sporting facility, the complex also features
innovative design and environmental elements such as solar panels, water-saving irrigation systems
and double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows making the most of natural light and surrounding views