Page 2791 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
This will complement other drought proofing initiatives funded through the “where will we play” initiative. This year’s budget provides a further $2.599 million to continue the program of community and major sports facility upgrades, ranging from upgrading pavilions to improving playing surfaces. As part of these upgrades, a total of $1 million has been provided to deliver a range of water demand management initiatives at priority ACT government sportsgrounds.
This includes the replacement of old and inefficient irrigation systems and greater use of drought tolerant grass. Nearly all of our irrigation systems are over 20 years old, and some are 40 years old. Recent audits have recommended that systems older than 20 years should be replaced or renewed, and this will lead to water savings of up to 20 per cent.
It will ensure water is applied in a highly efficient manner, which will make for a more uniform and healthy turf cover. Where possible, we are converting sportsgrounds to couch grass, which provides water savings of up to 50 per cent. This follows on from similar couch conversion work that has recently been completed at the Hawker international softball centre and the Narrabundah ball park facilities.
The government makes sound investments, building facilities where they are most needed, in areas of increased demand and growth. It is the same whether it is in the schools or the sports portfolio. That is why I would like to draw particular attention to what this budget provides by way of sport and recreation facilities for the growing community in Gungahlin.
Gungahlin will benefit from more than $8.6 million for several large-scale sport and recreation projects. Gungahlin is one of the fastest growing regions in the country and it is imperative that this community continues to be provided with sporting facilities and recreation opportunities to keep pace with that growth.
The budget provides a further $6.5 million for the construction of infrastructure works to support the Gungahlin wellbeing precinct. This precinct includes an enclosed oval, recreation centre and town park. The oval, funded in last year’s budget, will cater for all major football codes to a senior level. It will provide grandstand seating for 580 people and open seating for a further 850. There will be two official change rooms, public toilets, a first aid room, a kiosk, a function room and storage facilities. This new oval will provide a high quality competition venue and be comparable to similar facilities in other regions of the city. The budget also provides more than $1.4 million towards the forward design of the Gungahlin leisure centre component of the precinct. It is envisaged that this centre will offer aquatic facilities, courts, a gymnasium, an aerobics room, meeting rooms, cafes, a creche, change rooms and toilets. This project will provide a significant boost to recreation opportunities in the Gungahlin region for both organised and non-organised sport.
To allow the government to continue to plan for the future expansion of Gungahlin, the budget provides $500,000 to progress the design of the Throsby multi-sports complex. This complex will cater for numerous sports. It is proposed to feature irrigated sports fields with training lights, a pavilion, netball courts, tennis courts and
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video