Memorial Oval upgrade

Libby Coker announced a $500,000 upgrade for Memorial Oval if Labor is elected.

A Shorten Labor government would invest $500,000 to upgrade facilities at Memorial Oval in Draper Street, Ocean Grove.

Memorial Oval currently hosts women’s and girls’ football, but the facilities at the ground are not up to the same standard as those at Ray Menzies Oval in Shell Road, where the men’s games are played, Labor said.

“There are more than 100 passionate women and girls playing football for Ocean Grove, but the facilities they are using are simply not up to standard,” Ms Coker said.

“Labor’s investment will bring the amenities up to date, better accommodating the rising level of female participation at the club.”

Memorial Oval currently has no scoreboard or siren, the lights are not suitable for training or playing, and the change rooms are small, out of date and were never designed with female participation in mind.

Labor’s investment will support the construction of new change rooms and accessible toilet facilities, timekeeper’s box, a lighting upgrade and a new scoreboard.

Female participation in sport is on the rise across the region, with more than 100 women and girls representing Ocean Grove last season.

Labor’s investment will ensure female participation in sport continues to grow and is not hampered by woefully inadequate facilities.