Page 2251 - Week 06 - Friday, 27 June 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The sport and recreation industry has done well from the budget, and ACTSport congratulates both the government and Sport and Recreation Services for the work done to achieve the outcomes for the industry. ACTSport welcomes the investments announced for sport and recreation in the budget, in particular, the … investments for Gungahlin Oval, Phillip Oval, Harrison Fields, Throsby Fields and the Gungahlin Pool.
Organisations like Pedal Power have welcomed funding in the budget, which they say will go a long way to making Canberra the cycling capital of Australia. Netball Australia have acknowledged the significant contribution from the ACT government to ensure that Canberra has a world-class netball facility in keeping with other major cities. Netball Australia says:
This development is a welcome addition to our national network of international standard netball facilities. It ensures Australia remains a world leader in delivering netball events, and offers players world-class playing conditions.
Mr Speaker, they are just a sample of views from some of the key stakeholders in the sport and recreation area.
In speaking to the tourism and sport and recreation budget, I would like to particularly focus on the investment in Gungahlin. As we know, Gungahlin’s growing population means that further investment in high quality sporting facilities is needed. This budget allocates $400,000 for the forward design work to be undertaken on the enclosed oval near the town centre as part of the overall wellbeing precinct to be built alongside the new secondary college and the indoor leisure centre. This oval will cater to a variety of sports and feature a grandstand with at least 600 undercover and 300 uncovered seats. The facility will provide team change rooms, two officials change rooms, public toilets, canteens, first-aid rooms, storage space and, importantly, a car park.
To further progress this wellbeing precinct, the budget allocates $100,000 for the feasibility design for the Gungahlin leisure centre, most particularly, looking at a 50-metre pool along with associated court and gym areas as well as a range of other facilities such as a cafe and a creche.
The 2008-09 budget also allocates a further $600,000 for the design of the Throsby sports precinct, which lies northeast of the Gungahlin town centre on the northern side of Horse Park Drive. Part of this precinct will include playing fields, complemented by change rooms, public toilets, a canteen, storerooms and parking. The government will explore the possibility of accommodating other sport and recreation facilities on this Throsby site.
Another feature of the budget is $1 million in supplementary funding for the construction of the Harrison district playing fields to be used by senior grade cricket in summer and junior soccer in winter. This complex is expected to begin construction in the next month or so and be completed early in 2009. I am very pleased to advise the Assembly that I understand ACT Cricket has recently received confirmation of the success of their bid for a grant from Cricket NSW of $400,000, which will fund a second-turf wicket and the extension of the pavilion to include a meeting and function
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .