Gippsland's best netballers are playing on slippery, cracked and vandalised courts at Drouin labelled "an injury risk" to players.

Drouin Hawks Netball Club representative Kate Butler described the condition of the two main courts at Drouin Recreation Reserve when she lobbied for resurfacing works to be included in Baw Baw Shire's upcoming 2025/26 budget.
With the football oval currently undergoing a $3.3 million redevelopment and the club relocating this winter season, Ms Butler told councillors they had a perfect window to undertake the works and send a message of equality to women and girls that "our sport is valued."
In addition, Ms Butler told the special budget submission meeting that the netball club was willing to contribute $20,000 accumulated over the past decade, towards a court resurfacing project, which was quoted to cost from $168,000 down to $42,000.
"We're willing to empty those (savings) to co-contribute to it, because it is so important," she said. "It needs to happen. If you don't do it this year, you'll just need to do it in future years."
"But we've got the opportunity now with the Drouin Recreation Reserve development. For a fraction of the cost that's being put into the football ground and a fraction of the time, we could have them both going together."
Ms Butler said Drouin Hawks Netball Club competed in Gippsland League, the highest level of netball on offer before state-level. However, a Netball Victoria representative was left "shaking her head in horror at the state of our courts" during a visit last year, she said.
Multiple opposition clubs had complained about the court condition, labelling them unplayable and unsafe, she said.
The courts also are used by the Drouin and District Netball Association, who are supporting the upgrade.
Ms Butler offered a summary of a slip test conducted at the courts last year.
"Essentially the courts passed the minimum requirements for pedestrian use but did not pass the specifications for sporting use, and specifically not those for netball," she said.
Noting netball was a very high-paced game with players needing traction, she said "the minimum requirement for pedestrians just isn't going to cut it".
Upgraded courts also would attract Gippsland League finals with huge crowds, interleague games and Gippsland Stars training and games, Ms Butler believed.
"We could have our juniors watching state-level netball right at home".
Asked about court upgrade options, Ms Butler said pricing options included $168,000 to add a rubber underlay and top coat to two courts; $83,000 to top coat two courts; and, $42,000 for the "bare minimum" to top coat one court.
She said the club had actively been seeking funding to upgrade its facilities, gaining $220,000 from the federal government for lighting upgrades on four courts, WorkSafe grants for pressure cleaners to maintain the court surface; and, grants for security cameras, security lighting and bollards to protect the courts from vandalism.