Hume City Councillors have voted to accept a $2.5m federal grant to upgrade Sunbury’s Boardman Stadium, though officers stated the well-intentioned election commitment by Federal Member for Hawke, Sam Rae, caused unexpected challenges for council’s planning process.
The funding was announced by Mr Rae during the 2025 federal election campaign after advocacy from the Sunbury Basketball Association (SBA) and others.
However, council had not requested the project, had no plans to undertake the works, and had not allocated it within its 2025/26 capital works program. As a result, the commitment created an unsolicited project that it was required to assess at short notice.
Although councillors agreed to submit the required grant application before the 1 December deadline, officers noted that absorbing the project into its already full capital works schedule may impact the timing of other planned works.
While the project itself will be delivered entirely within the $2.5m federal allocation, council must provide internal staff resources for project planning, management, and grant acquittal.
The proposed upgrade includes expanded office and meeting areas, refurbished changerooms, improved accessibility upgrades and design work for future indoor court expansion. Rising demand for court space across Sunbury has placed increasing pressure on the stadium and surrounding facilities, stated Cllr Jarrod Bell.
Council documentation states that declining the funding could have caused reputational impacts due to community expectations and the public nature of the federal announcement.
Cllr Bell said: “By accepting this funding, I do not expect or accept, and I will not support any other community in our city having their much-needed projects delayed, downgraded, or quietly defunded to make room for this.
“This should be a genuine change to the capital program that does not disadvantage any community across our city. Not Broad meadows, not Craigieburn, not Greenville, not Calcalo, not anywhere in between or anywhere else.
“For me, this is exactly the kind of partnership we should be leaning into, fixing a leaking, overstretched stadium, easing pressure on indoor courts across the region, and doing it at no additional cost to council.
“I thank officers for bringing this report forward and I commend the recommendation to my colleagues.”