Page 3810 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 24 August 2010
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580 people and open seating for 850. It will feature officials rooms, change rooms, public toilets, a first aid room, a kiosk, a function room and storage.
Members would be aware that in this year’s budget the government committed half a million dollars for the further design of the Throsby multisports complex in Gungahlin. Members who drive around the inner north would be aware that work is now underway to deliver on Labor’s election commitment to progress development of the Lyneham sports precinct. Anyone who has been anywhere near Dickson on a Saturday morning knows that this Southwell park precinct is junior sport central, so an investment there is a clear investment in junior sport.
This project will include the redevelopment of the existing National Sports Club with construction of underground stormwater piping between the existing National Sports Club and the Lyneham hockey centre, the creation of a formal entry road as well as much improved parking arrangements and additional sporting fields. I can confidently say it will be a great asset for Canberra’s sports people of all ages when complete.
Our investment in Stromlo Forest Park is also a major investment in junior sport, with facilities available for many activities—horse riding, mountain biking, running and bushwalking. Certainly, many junior cross-country running championships are now held at Stromlo Forest Park.
Of course, as we head into the warmer months, our aquatic centres will become very popular again, especially with younger Canberrans, and the government is committed to ensuring that Canberrans have access to quality aquatic centres. Work is progressing on a new centre for Gungahlin, and I am sure when it is completed it will be very well utilised by the whole community, but especially younger people.
In October last year we reopened the refurbished Active Leisure Centre in Erindale after a $3 million upgrade, adding two extra lanes for swimmers in the south side of the city. The upgraded leisure centre is available to the entire community, and particularly students at Erindale college. The government also invested $4 million in upgrading the Lakeside Leisure Centre in the Tuggeranong town centre and, through the ACT Planning and Land Authority, it has reached agreement with the private owner of the former Oasis pool in Deakin to construct some new swimming facilities there. That DA has now been approved.
The backbone of junior sport is community sporting groups and their peak bodies who spot talent in young Canberrans and help them develop their talents. That is why I was very pleased to announce that local peak sporting groups will be able to apply for additional ACT government funding as part of the 2011 sports grants round. This funding will be up to $60,000 a year, which is an increase of up to $18,000 a year for some organisations. I committed more than a year ago to review the amounts that were available for peak organisations under the sports grants round, and we have this year announced a significant increase.
We recognise that increases in salaries, insurance and facility hiring costs are placing pressure on ACT community sporting organisations, and that is why we have boosted this funding. From 2011, large category A sporting organisations—for example, Basketball ACT and Hockey ACT—will be able to apply for up to $60,000 per year,
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