The Rudd Labor Government has today offered $2 million towards the cost of installing lights at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, a move that brings this important local project one-step closer to becoming a reality.

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

This historic program is supporting jobs and stimulating local economies during the global economic recession, while at the same time putting in place vital community infrastructure that will deliver lasting benefits to the community.

The project will involve the construction of lights, allowing the oval to host night time sporting fixtures.

This upgrade will help to ensure the oval remains a venue for one-day international and twenty20 cricket matches – an outcome that is important for the game’s continuing development within Tasmania.

It will also provide the Tasmanian Cricket Association with the resources to maintain their junior development programs.

The Clarence City Council will manage the project.

The funding announced today builds on the $546,000 we have already delivered to Clarence City Council for a separate local infrastructure project to upgrade the air and water heating systems and other building improvement works at the Clarence Aquatic Centre.