Page 2670 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 10 August 2016
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However, as part of my amendment, which I will move shortly, makes clear, the government is always willing to work with sports around suggestions to improve the way it books and maintains fields. I have asked Active Canberra to place particular emphasis on working with sports on upcoming closures in September this year and March 2017. Other support to local clubs and local teams is also reflected in the delivery of current capital works projects valued at over $17.27 million, including upgrades of the Narrabundah ball park and Phillip oval and the development of the Melrose football precinct. This is off the back of recently completed works, including the Woden park upgrade, oval restorations at Bonython, Watson and Weetangera, the Gungahlin enclosed oval and the Franklin community recreation park. These works combined have just surpassed the $30 million mark.
We also provide support for sports via the $2.3 million sport and recreation grants program, which can be used by sports to fund participation programs, projects that improve facilities, organisational development, planning and costs associated with education and training. Under this program, I have been pleased to announce this morning that the government will work with sporting bodies to grow women’s representation on their boards. We also look to fund programs and infrastructure which make participation more attractive for girls and young women.
At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: a large selection of high-quality, affordable sportsgrounds that are open for use and are safe and fit for purpose. My ambition as Minister for Sport and Recreation goes further. I want an inclusive and ever-growing sport and recreation community that welcomes everyone regardless of age, ability, class, gender or background.
If Mr Doszpot is contacted by local clubs, as he says he is, that are having issues with the booking system for ovals or fields in the ACT or having difficulties with applying for grants, I would encourage him to have them get in touch with either my office or Active Canberra so that we can provide them with support to access the booking system or apply for grants, if that is what they are after, rather than just coming into this place and talking about it as if there is a problem. Nobody ever contacts my office or Active Canberra in order for us to resolve it, so I would encourage him to do that. I move the amendment which has been circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes:
(a) the ongoing investments of the ACT Government to support sport and recreation in Canberra, including operational and infrastructure funding for community sporting organisations;
(b) the specific investments in the 2016-2017 Budget of $1.8 million for a sportsground irrigation and maintenance funding boost and $1.1 million for community sporting infrastructure and asset maintenance;
(c) that the ACT Government currently subsidises community use of government-owned sportsgrounds at the rate of 84 per cent and that
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