Deloraine netball celebrates

June 2018 | Sharon Webb

AROUND 150 Deloraine netballers are thrilled that by this time next year they will have two new netball courts.

The outdoor courts will be located at the Deloraine Community Complex and will be the first dedicated netball courts in the town.

Meander Valley Council has allocated $510,000 in its capital works budget for 2018-2019 and will manage the project.

Council manager Martin Gill said council has preliminary designs; the project will go to tender in the next few months and the courts will be constructed between December 2018 and March 2019.

Deloraine Devils netball team has also fund-raised and attracted grants for the courts from: Community Infrastructure Fund, $55,000; Tas Community Fund, $44,000; Bendigo Bank grant , $30,000; Liberal Party election commitment, $100,000.

President of the Deloraine Devils and the Meander Netball Association, Taneil Bloomfield, said for the 12 years netball had been played in Deloraine, teams had shared the indoor basketball courts at the complex.

“The lines on the courts are the wrong size and we struggle to get on-court time when we need it because of the demand on them,” she said.

“It’s been a long process to raise funds for new courts – we’ve held morning teas, catered for community groups and held raffles and the usual chocolate fundraisers.

“Fortunately we’ve had some wonderful, dedicated families working on it.”

Ms Bloomfield said that two new courts would enable girls from six years old up to women to play netball, including net-set-go in spring for girls aged 6-10.