Page 462 - Week 02 - Thursday, 11 February 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
I know how disappointed the Canberra community is about the Mpowerdome, and we have had many discussions in this place about it. Mr Wall was very passionate in his concern for Mpowerdome in the community, as, of course, are you, Madam Speaker. I do not think a week went by where I was not contacted by you about Mpowerdome.
Unfortunately, Mpowerdome, being a commercial business, decided to close its doors in 2016. As far as I know, it still remains for sale and on the market. As far as I could see today when I checked, the asking price is $4 million-plus on Allhomes. I understand that a number of organisations are interested in either purchasing or leasing Mpowerdome. At the moment I also understand that a community Aboriginal organisation, Yeddung Mura, have leased some of the facilities at Mpowerdome and are operating out of there.
Of course, the Kambah multi-sport facility has opened its doors again and it offers a whole range of different sports for the Tuggeranong community to engage in, similar to the ones Mpowerdome offered—soccer, netball, volleyball and cricket, as well as inflatable world. I understand the concerns around Mpowerdome. It has had a long story and engagement from a number of ministers in this place. ( Time expired.)
MR DAVIS: Thank you, Minister. What is your alternative proposal for the placement of a multi-sport facility in South Tuggeranong?
MS BERRY: I refer Mr Davis to my previous answer. The Kambah private commercial organisation which has reopened its doors is offering multi-sports facilities to communities in Tuggeranong.
MR BRADDOCK: Minister, what advice would you give to community sports organisations, many of whom are currently at the mercy of private providers for the provision of appropriate sporting facilities?
MS BERRY: I thank Mr Braddock for his supplementary question. The government provides sports facilities all across the ACT for community sports organisations. I ran through a few yesterday in Tuggeranong where upgrades have happened, and they have been done across the ACT, including sports facilities in Belconnen, with the restoration of Higgins neighbourhood oval, lighting upgrades at Hawker, improvements to Hawker oval, improved drainage at Kippax enclosed field, and improvements at GIO Stadium, including family-friendly change rooms. I have referred a number of times to the upgrades that we are doing with regard to female-friendly change rooms to ensure that they remain inclusive for everybody who wants to play sports.
At Gungahlin we have continued work on the design of the Throsby home of football, completed stage 1 of Taylor district playing fields, installed synthetic grass at Nicholls, developed Moncrieff Community Park, upgraded irrigation at Gungahlin enclosed oval, and upgraded lighting at Nicholls.
In central Canberra upgrades have been made to: the Canberra District Rugby League Centre of Excellence at Braddon for the Canberra Raiders and Region Football;
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video