The first sod was today turned to officially kick off works on Stage One of the highly anticipated $28 million Eastern Recreation Precinct project in Wantirna, about 25 kilometres East of the Melbourne CBD.

As part of the Rudd Labor Government’s Economic Stimulus Plan, the Knox City Council received $7 million for this project.

The funding will be used to help develop 48 hectares of new and modern sporting and community facilities, with the project expected to support 360 construction and 50 ongoing jobs.

The Precinct will feature six indoor basketball/netball courts, two outdoor synthetic soccer pitches, administration areas and general amenities, huge grassed open areas, as well as around 1,000 parking spaces.

This project is excellent news for the around 151,000 Knox residents and will provide a great base to support a range of sporting, recreation, social and community activities.

In partnership with every council in the country we are delivering more than 3,300 small and larger scale building projects, including new and refurbished public libraries, sporting facilities, parks and playgrounds, and child care centres.

In fact, we’re making the single largest federal investment in community infrastructure through the more than $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

Knox City Council has already received almost $8.05 million for local community infrastructure under the Program.

The Program’s remaining $220 million will be made available to councils in coming months, with Knox City Council set to receive at least $423,000.

This additional funding will support even more local jobs and rebuild even more of the nation’s vital community infrastructure.

I congratulate the Knox City Council and their project partners, the Victorian Government, Football Federation Victoria, Knox Basketball Incorporated and Victoria Basketball Incorporated for helping deliver this project.