http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1458784/council-applies-for-national-funding-to-finish-soccer-facility/?cs=61

The second stage of the Ballarat Regional Soccer facility will be considered for national funding and could be completed in time to host an international team at the 2015 Asia Cup.
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Ballarat City Council has applied to the Regional Australia Development Fund (RADF) for $2.675 million to help finish the $11 million facility.

Should the council be successful in its funding application, a further $2.675 million would be needed to finish the project.

But the facility could still be competed in time for the 2015 Asia Cup, and Ballarat could be a training venue for a team competing at the event.

Ballarat City Council carried a motion noting the funding application at its meeting on Wednesday.

In a report to councillors, officers said completion of the project would be a significant achievement for the Ballarat community.

“It will ensure that Ballarat is able to successfully bid for significant major events, while also being capable of hosting major regional and sub-regional rectangular-based sporting events,” officers said.

The council has asked for $2.675 million to fund 50 per cent of the facility’s stage two completion.

Stage two will include a main show pitch, completion of the pavilion’s first floor, spectator seating, perimeter fencing, a spectator shelter, car parks, roads, footpaths, paved shared spaces and landscaping.

Stage one has been completed and is due to be officially opened by the state government.

Member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay said if the federal government didn’t tick off the funding, Ballarat could lose the opportunity to host an international team.

The team would arrive in December 2014 in readiness for the January 8, 2015, start to the Asia Cup.

He said the move would stimulate the Ballarat economy by more than $11.41 million, but waiting for the September 14 federal election could be too late.
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“All parties to this project understand – and already agree – that the real opportunity is the one-for-one dollar agreement between the Ballarat City Council and the federal government through the RDAF,” he said.

Successful RDAF applications will be announced on July 12.