Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard is joined by Carlton President Stephen Kernahan on a tour of the redevelopment at Visy Park Click here to view the full gallery	The Deputy Prime Minister was a visitor to the Carlton change rooms before the Round 21 clash with Melbourne. Click here to view the full gallery

Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard has announced that the Federal Government will contribute $4.5 million to the redevelopment of Visy Park.

Adding to the Carlton experience for the Deputy Prime Minister was a visit to the Carlton change rooms before Saturday’s game. Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson met with Brett Ratten and a number of players and officials in the Carlton rooms before attending the President’s function. A Western Bulldogs supporter, the Deputy Prime Minister was happy to wish Ratten and the Carlton team the best for the game on Saturday following the Bulldogs win against Geelong the night before.

Carlton supporters wishing to assist the funding of the Visy Park redevelopment can do so through the Blue Believers program. For more details on how you can help support this important project for Carlton’s future click here.  

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is the Minister for Education, Employment & Workplace Relations, made the announcement on Saturday morning where she joined Carlton President Stephen Kernahan on a tour of the redevelopment at Visy Park before attending the Carlton home game against Melbourne.

The contribution is for education and training that will be undertaken at Visy Park through the redevelopment project that will make Visy Park a community hub which demonstrates sustainable living. The redevelopment will include installation for infrastructure for solar energy, recycled water and rainwater harvesting.

The contribution of $4.5 million, through the Australian Apprentices Workforce Development program, will assist the development of education, training and research facilities.

Carlton is already investing in programs for school students to enhance their understanding of environmental issues such as water conservation, energy use and recycling. This funding will support the expansion of the Visy Effective Disposals Schools program which involves player ambassadors teaching children from local schools about environmental issues.

The new 70-seat lecture theatre will increase the schools program capacity to accommodate up to 3800 students per year. This lecture theatre will be named the Don Chipp Lecture Theatre in memory of the late Don Chipp. Mr Chipp was the founder of the Australian Democrats and was a supporter of education and a pioneer in politics in matters concerning the environment.

Don Chipp was also a life-long Carlton supporter and the Deputy Prime Minister said it was most appropriate for the lecture theatre to be named in his honour, a person who was passionate about education, the environment and the Carlton Football Club.

Members of the Chipp family, including Don’s wife Idun, were also involved in the tour on Saturday morning as well as being the guests of the Club at the game on Saturday afternoon. They were naturally delighted with the announcement.

The Federal Government funding is in addition to the financial support committed to the redevelopment by the State Government, AFL and City of Melbourne, who are contributing a total of $9.75 million to the project.

Carlton President Stephen Kernahan was thrilled with the contribution by the Federal Government and was delighted to host the Deputy Prime Minister on the tour of the facilities and then at the Carlton match at Etihad Stadium.

“On behalf of the Carlton Football Club and indeed the community I wish to acknowledge your contribution to this important redevelopment at Visy Park. We thank you and the Federal Government for the support and funding you have provided to this project," Kernahan said.

“We are well aware of the importance of the redevelopment for the Carlton Football Club and in particular for the players. The new facilities will provide the best possible environment for the players’ development and preparation to perform at their best.

“The facilities will also be of enormous benefit to the community, in particular through education and training programs to be conducted in the new facility. The Don Chipp Lecture Theatre will be the centre of much of these training programs and it is appropriate this theatre be named after the late Don Chipp, a supporter of the environment and also a very loyal Carlton supporter."