As the Shadow Minister for Sports and Recreation, I am pleased to be able to announce the following initiatives. We all know that access to sport and an active lifestyle is essential for health, mental health and general well-being.
Our local sporting clubs are key to developing community connections and fostering a healthy and active lifestyle in the ACT.
They also generate revenue for our local businesses and drive investment in local community infrastructure.
In the first 12 months, a Canberra Liberals Government will conduct an audit of all sporting facilities, to assess the infrastructure needed to support local sporting clubs and associations.
Following the audit, a Canberra Liberals Government will develop an ACT-wide Sporting Precinct Asset Management Plan in consultation with our sporting groups and stakeholders to ensure our sporting facilities are meeting the needs of our growing population.
- Provide funding of $20m over four years to invest in vital community sports infrastructure upgrades including changerooms, storage facilities and lighting. ACT sporting associations and clubs will be able to apply for funding for necessary upgrades for ACT sporting assets.
- A Canberra Liberals Government will provide funding of $3.5 million to Hockey ACT to maintain the National Hockey Centre at Lyneham and Tuggeranong Hockey Park at Greenway.
- A Canberra Liberals Government will provide funding of $250,000 for safety upgrades at Narrabundah Baseball Park, including the installation of safety nets on the side of the park.
- The Canberra Liberals will provide funding of $1 million over four years to encourage local community sporting clubs and associations to run programs to encourage more participation by young girls, members of the CALD community, and those Canberrans with special needs.
Policies announced
- Build a new Southside Arena, including an Olympic size swimming pool, multisport facility, and community meeting and event spaces along with recreational and aquatic facilities such as water slides, a splash park, and a hydrotherapy pool. The arena will be all-ages friendly.
- Start design and planning for an indoor sporting facility in Casey
• Provide funding of $5.4 million to the Tuggeranong United Football Club
(TUFC) to upgrade its facilities in Kambah. The upgrades will include building female changerooms and the redevelopment of playing fields in Kambah.
- Provide funding of $1.5 million to the Brindabella Blues Football Club at Calwell, to build a new pavilion including changerooms, storage and canteen facilities. The new pavilion will support local community sporting events such as little athletics and local school athletics carnivals.
- Work with the AFL on an integrated partnership for an AFL Hub in Kambah.
- Work with Pickleball ACT to identify a suitable location for an outdoor venue.
The Canberra Liberals are committed to encouraging participation in community sport and will work with sporting clubs and associations to build and maintain facilities.
Please distribute the Canberra Liberals sporting initiatives to your stakeholders and playing members.
James Milligan MLA, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation
Elizabeth Lee MLA, Leader of the Canberra Liberals
17 October 2024