Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government, has announced the Rudd Labor Government will offer up to $2.9 million for the redevelopment of the Ringwood Soccer and Multi-purpose Sports Pavilion in Melbourne's East.

Mr Albanese made the announcement of funding in Ringwood with Mike Symon, Member for Deakin and Maroondah City Council Mayor, Peter Gurr.

The Rudd Labor Government is funding the lion's share of this $3.55 million pavilion to serve a number of sports, including soccer, hockey, rugby and gridiron.

This funding is part of our $800 million Community Infrastructure Program - the largest one-off investment in local infrastructure in Australia's history.

Through the Rudd Government's economic stimulus package, we are investing in projects like this to support jobs and local economies during the global recession.

This redevelopment, which is within the Ringwood Sporting Precinct, will be a sporting hub for local teams and schools and encourage healthy sporting activities.

The existing pavilion is outdated and requires major renovations in order to comply with building regulations.

The new multipurpose pavilion will provide a modern facility to accommodate the significant increase in demand, particularly for junior and female soccer participation.

Federal funding will contribute to the demolition of the existing pavilion and the construction of a new single storey pavilion which incorporates:

•  Change rooms and showers with disabled access;


•  A boxing gymnasium;


•  A terraced spectator area;


•  Car parking, ramps and pedestrian links to other sporting facilities in the Precinct;


•  Outdoor pole lighting for the playing field;


•  Office space for regional sporting organisations; and


•  Environmental measures like rain water tanks, recycled water and solar panels.

This funding builds on $620,000 that we have already delivered for three local projects in the Maroondah City Council area this year. It brings investment by the Rudd Government in Maroondah community infrastructure to more than $3.5 million this year.

Nearly 70 per cent of the stimulus package is on infrastructure, with construction of projects already underway.

More than 3,000 projects are being funded by the Government's Community Infrastructure Program across Australia to support jobs and deliver community benefits.