When it comes to local sports, there’s no denying that small towns thrive on it.

But for towns with populations less than 1000, there’s a phalanx of unique challenges they face when competing with their larger counterparts.

That’s why the Moira Shire Council has recently adopted the Moira Shire Small Town Sports Sustainability Strategy, a comprehensive document to ensure sporting clubs in smaller communities remain viable and thriving for generations to come.

Council chair administrator Dr Graeme Emonson said the strategy was a vital step in ensuring equitable access to sport across the shire.

“Our small towns are the heartbeat of rural Victoria, and their sporting clubs are often the social glue that holds these communities together,” Dr Emonson said.

“This 10-year strategy recognises that smaller clubs face different challenges — from facility standards to growing junior participation — and provides a roadmap to help them not just survive, but flourish."

The strategy, which targets eight towns with populations between 500 and 1000, includes facility master planning and targeted actions to boost participation in communities where population growth and school access are limited compared to larger centres.

“We’re committed to working collaboratively with our communities to support sustainable sport and active recreation across our entire municipality,” Dr Emonson said.

“A key component of this will be working together to secure external funding for future enhancements and infrastructure upgrades over the coming decade, knowing that our community, including council, can’t afford to fund these upgrades without significant support from the state and federal governments.”

The strategy is available on council’s website at tinyurl.com/36mvz4k2

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Monday, 20th October 2025

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