Page 1831 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2022
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And so, we know that more Canberrans than ever before have wanted to get out to a range of different sports and recreation activities across our community and we have always been able to maintain great facilities here in the ACT and will continue to make sure that we do that.
Federal government—sports infrastructure
DR PATERSON: Minister, how will the ACT government work with the new Albanese Labor government on delivering sports infrastructure in Canberra?
MS BERRY: Well this is one question that I thank Dr Paterson for and it goes to, I guess, some of the questions that—the question that Mr Davis asked about how we can continue to provide sporting facilities here in the ACT and working with a new Albanese Labor government, we will be able to see an allocation—a fairer allocation of national infrastructure spending to co-invest in this city.
For our local sports clubs and teams, the lack of investment that we have seen in assets sitting either without the proper maintenance, making them unavailable for use by our elite teams. On the eve of the election, we finally saw a recognition of the previous coalition government's responsibilities to maintain its own asset with a commitment to fund repairs and upgrades at the AIS arena.
Federal Labor made a $15 million commitment to repair, renovate and reopen the arena, something the ACT government has long been advocating for since its sudden closure in 2020. While it has served out community well, being utilised as a vaccine hub through the COVID-19 pandemic, I know Canberrans, including myself—and I know Ms Lawder as well as an avid basketball fan—cannot wait for the works to commence so that we can go back to cheering on teams like the Canberra Capitals at their home venue.
The new Albanese government is also looking to Canberra's sporting future with a $750,000 commitment to the University of Canberra's long-term plan and vision to develop a sports hub. This is something the ACT government will continue to work with the University of Canberra on, and it was great to be able to be there to the launch of their strategic plan.
It is wonderful to finally have a federal government that can share this vision for Canberrans, even on the local level, federal Labor committed $800,000 to a tennis court in Canberra upgrades with four new acrylic hard courts at the Weston Creek Tennis Club. With $100,000 co-contribution from the ACT government—(Time expired.)
DR PATERSON: Minister, what do these commitments mean for local sport in the ACT?
MS BERRY: Well it means that finally, we have a government that is listening and caring about the nation's capital and its citizens. The commitments from the new Labor government will make a significant difference to our sports infrastructure in the
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