Page 3721 - Week 08 - Friday, 24 August 2012

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(3) What modelling has been undertaken by the Directorate to determine the most appropriate level of maintenance spend on an annual basis on ACT sporting fields and what are the potential savings in public liability claims and costs that could be achieved if the amount spent on maintaining ACT sporting fields was increased.

Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The annual amount spent on maintaining ACT sporting fields for the past three financial years is as follows:

The apparent ongoing decline in the sportsground budget spent from 2008-09 to 2010-11 is directly related to the consumption of water. Rainfall and evaporation vary greatly from year to year and this can have a significant effect on the annual kilolitre consumption of water for irrigation purposes and the overall budget spent. The kilolitre consumption spreadsheet (attached) clearly demonstrates this variability and in particular highlights the low consumption in 2010-11 and the subsequent significant reduction in spend. Repairs and maintenance activities associated with damage and vandalism is also a variable that changes from year to year.

In addition the Water Demand Management (WDM) capital upgrades program, where aging irrigation systems are progressively being replaced, has resulted in a decrease in the amount of plumbing maintenance required at those sportsgrounds. These improvements have reduced the cost of plumbing maintenance through a reduced frequency of repair. The WDM program has also funded the conversion of several sportsgrounds to couch surfaces. These surfaces require far less water than a traditional cool season grass surface and achieve a reduction in the consumption, and in turn cost, of water by up to 50%.

The sportsground maintenance budget is not broken down by the different ground classifications (e.g. District Playing Field). All irrigated ACT Government sportsgrounds are maintained to a standard that is considered to be safe and fit for purpose regardless of the classification type.

The 2012-13 budget includes the following initiatives that are aimed at improving the quality of ACT Government sportsgrounds:

• $6.5 million – Gungahlin Enclosed Oval - Construction of Grandstand

• $1.15 million – Infrastructure Improvement at Sportsgrounds

• $1.0 million – Improve the Quality of Sportsgrounds

• $0.85 million – Capital Upgrades – Facility Improvement Program

• $4.0 million (over three years) – For the restoration of Bonython, Watson and Weetangera Neighbourhood Ovals

(2) There has been one public liability claim made in the last three financial years. This claim is yet to proceed to court, therefore it has yet to be determined if the ACT Government is liable for any claim costs.

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