The Victorian Government recently announced its successful applicants for the 2025-26 Country Football and Netball Program grants scheme, and among the nine recipients is Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve.
Greater Shepparton City Council netted a slice of the $1.5 million on offer through the initiative, with $133,000 allocated towards change room amenity redevelopments.
The funding will be used to install new accessible and all-gender facilities in the change rooms at the venue, driven by one of its user groups, Shepparton Football Netball Club.
Club committee member David Harcoan explained what changes will occur at Deakin Reserve once works get underway.
“It’s essentially a redevelopment and upgrade of the existing change rooms facilities,” he said.
“That will basically mean newly designed showers, separate toilets, lockable shower cubicles, et cetera.
“The main focus being the benefits it offers not just to our current team but it opens it up for female friendly facilities, to be able to promote women and girls in sport as well.
“I think there will be some accessible features in the new toilets; things like ambulant toilets, so if you’ve got volunteers or coaches that may need some additional facilities, it’ll be catered to them as well.”
Harcoan stated the “old, archaic” change room amenities underneath the main Deakin Reserve grandstand are getting a modern, more accessible face lift.
He expected works to begin within the next 12 months, with SFNC and other user groups such as Central Park St Brendan’s Cricket Club given the green light to assist with demolition work.
“It’s great the council decided to look at it as a priority in its application, and hopefully it will just keep improving the status of Deakin Reserve,” Harcoan said.
“With these sort of new facilities, it just makes it more attractive for various events throughout the year.
“And for the current users, it just improves the services for them as well.
“From my point of view, the accessibility components of it is something I’m really pleased to see will be within the new facilities.”
Applications for the new round of grants for the 2026-27 Country Football Netball Program close on 26 February 2026.
Regional and outer metropolitan councils can apply for grants of up to $250,000 for sports infrastructure developments including court lighting upgrades, changeroom overhauls, new pavilions and more.
For the latest information and successful grant recipients visit sport.vic.gov.au.
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