A SYMBOLIC gesture has officially started the development of the much-awaited Gippsland Regional Sports Complex.
Wellington Shire mayor Darren McCubbin with Eastern Victoria MLC Matt Viney and Victorian Senator Gavin Marshall turned the first sods of soil at the development site on Cobains Rd last week and heralded the start of a major overhaul in Sale's infrastructure.
The sports complex will feature a four court indoor stadium, 12 outdoor netball courts, as well as modern change rooms, meeting rooms and administration areas.
However, while the turning of the sod was the symbolic commencement of works, excavations have already begun in order to have the outdoor netball courts in operation by Christmas this year.
Cr McCubbin likened the complex as being first in a "series of dominoes'' in terms of new developments for the area.
"This project is the first in our series of dominoes,'' he said.
"By this time next year we will see this new four court indoor stadium constructed, as well as 12 outdoor netball courts.
"Once occupied this new complex will allow a new TAFE campus to be developed on the site of the existing netball courts in Punt Lane.''
Cr McCubbin also outlined Council's ambition to secure the six year contract for the Defence Interim Basic Flying School at West Sale Aerodrome in the space that is currently occupied by East Gippsland's TAFE campus.
"By building a new TAFE college in Sale, we coincidentally will free up the existing TAFE facilities at West Sale Aerodrome for possible use by the Defence Interim Basic Flying School.''
Should the school be established in Sale, it is anticipated to inject more than $90 million into the local economy and would source local contractors for the construction.
The development of the complex comes after years of community groups lobbying for the relocation - most recently in June 2008, when the Sale Netball Association and the Committee for Wellington rallied to gain $5 million in Federal Government funding.
Wellington Shire deputy mayor Scott Rossetti was one of the organisers of the rally in 2008. He said the development of the complex was a win for people power.
"It is a reflection of the community's work as a whole,'' he said.
Due to the change of government in 2007, an application made by the Sale Netball Association for $5 million in funding under the Howard government's Regional Partnerships Program was not processed, and no money was allocated.
"At times, we were sure it wasn't actually going to happen at all,'' Cr Rossetti said.
"There's now a real feeling within the councillors of a move to make Sale the capital of Gippsland once more.''
Cr Rossetti also explained the complex will serve as a sporting hub for Wellington Shire and will provide a venue for major competitions in the area.
"We now finally have the opportunity to have major tournaments and competitions in our own backyard,'' he said.
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