Local Netballers got their first run out on brand new competition grade courts funded by the Andrews Labor as the courts were unveiled at John Cain Memorial Park.

Parkside Netball Club and Netball Victoria joined with the Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous, Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence and the newly elected Mayor of Darebin, Lina Messina to open the courts.

The courts, complete with 200 Lux lighting, were funded by the State Government’s Inner City Netball Program that is delivering 64 brand new courts across the cities of Darebin, Yarra and Moreland.

The program was first conceived by the former Labor Member for Northcote, Fiona Richardson and construction began last year.

Already 23 courts have delivered across Darebin, including at Northcote and Thornbury High and Fairfield Primary

Local clubs like Parkside have seen a rapid growth in membership in recent years and the new courts and lighting will help the club rebound strongly from the coronavirus pandemic.

The new courts will allow local netball to host more training and matches, day and night, as well as popular development programs such as NetSetGO for juniors.

The Government has invested more than $1 billion in community sport and active recreation infrastructure since 2014.

Quotes attributable to Kat Theophanous, Labor Member for Northcote

What a way to finish off this year. If we didn’t already know how important local and community sports are to us, this year has reminded us in the strongest possible way.

“There is no substitute for having good quality and well-maintained local community sports facilities. I look forward to this being the first part of revitalising the John Cain Park.”

15 December 2020