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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (4 December) . . Page.. 4587 ..

MS REILLY: My question is to Mr Stefaniak as Minister for Sport and Recreation.

Mr Stefaniak: Not housing?

MS REILLY: No; I have never asked a sport question before.

Mr Stefaniak: Are you sure you do not want to ask a housing question? I have some very good answers for you.

MS REILLY: No; this is a sport question, Mr Stefaniak. It is an exciting day for both of us.

MR SPEAKER: Would you two like to get together outside at some time, or will you ask your question, Ms Reilly?

MS REILLY: It is an important day, Mr Speaker; you should not spoil the pleasure that we are getting out of it. Minister, when did you or one of your departmental officers sign an agreement with the Canberra Suns for their use of Downer Oval? Was the basis of this agreement that there would be lights provided and change sheds put on Downer Oval?

MR STEFANIAK: I am not too sure that any agreement was signed in relation to the Canberra Suns. They are, I understand, a new team. It is just evidence of the continued increase in demand in the inner north area for sporting facilities. The Canberra Suns is, I understand, a women's soccer team. I think it has junior and senior women's soccer teams. It is just one of a number of teams who will use or currently use Downer Oval, which is a delightful oval, Ms Reilly. I know you have been there. I have been there. In fact, I played football there dating back to the 1960s; so I am well aware of it.

I am not too sure whether anyone has signed an agreement, but there is certainly considerable overuse of Dickson and Hackett. It is interesting to look at a document showing the usage hours there, which I will table, Mr Speaker. Dickson 1, for the 1996-97 financial year, had something like 4,375 ground-hours of use. Lyneham 2 had 1,918. Downer 1 had about 425. There are three ovals at Downer - two rugby pitches and an Aussie rules oval, from memory, Ms Reilly. It is a nice spot. It is an oval which a number of junior and, I think, senior women's soccer teams use. I think the Suns have a couple of teams in a seniors competition. Also, Ms Reilly, junior softball is played there, as well as, I understand, Aussie rules and some other sports.

You might be aware, Ms Reilly - I hope you are, although you are not your party's sport spokesperson - that there has been a floodlighting program and ground upgrade, which often includes things like canteens and other facilities, operating for about four or five years. In fact, it was started by the previous Government, your party. During that time, a considerable amount of money has been spent on upgrading ovals in about 20 locations around the city, promoting greatly enhanced opportunities for thousands of members of sporting teams to improve their skills. I table the ground usage statistics, which Ms Reilly might find handy.

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