Ararat Rural City Council has committed to taking strides towards establishing gender equality in the access and usage of the region’s sports facilities in a pair of new draft documents open for community feedback.

The council’s Fair Access Policy and Fair Access Plan 2025-2029 seek to address known barriers preventing women and girls within the municipality from accessing and using community sports infrastructure and recreation reserve facilities.

Mayor Jo Armstrong said the policy and plan were designed to build the council’s ability to identify and eliminate systemic causes of gender inequality in its policy, programs, communications and services relating to community sport and recreation.

She said the council would promote gender equality starting with the completion of a gender impact assessment.

“Council is firmly committed to ensuring fair and equitable access to our sports facilities and recreation reserves for all women and girls in our community,” Cr Armstrong said.

“This initiative not only directly benefits our community but also strengthens our ability to secure the crucial funding needed for the long-term sustainability of our municipality’s sports infrastructure.”

The Fair Access Plan 2025-2029 outlines the practical steps the council will take to implement its Fair Access Policy, including specific actions to advance gender-equitable access and use of community sports infrastructure.

Feedback on the Fair Access Plan 2025-2029 is open via the Engage Ararat website at engage.ararat.vic.gov.au.

A final draft of the Fair Access Plan 2025-2029 will be presented at the June council meeting.

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