$7.7 million commitment to improve Adelaide’s netball facilities

Two of Adelaide’s top netball facilities, the Netball SA Priceline Stadium and the Park Lands netball hub, are to receive a combined $7.7 million infrastructure upgrade.

With netball the most popular female sport in South Australia the upgrades are aimed at increasing female participation in sport at both amateur and elite level.

The funding will see ‘Wikaparntu Wira’ (Park 22), home to 20 community netball courts in the South West Park Lands, benefit from a $3.2 million Planning and Development Fund grant to revitalise the precinct.

The upgrade includes resurfacing of the existing 20 courts, new seating, new community courts, a new lawn area and playspace, improved lighting and walking trails. The project will be completed in December 2017.

The South Australian Government has committed over $20 million from the Planning and Development Fund towards projects which support the vision of the Park Lands as attractive, diverse, resilient and alive with activity.

Netball SA Priceline Stadium will also receive a $4.5 million injection to fund key infrastructure improvements at the home of netball in South Australia.

The investment aims to enhance the venue to ensure it maintains its competition standards and provides a comfortable and welcoming environment for the 300,000 people who use it on an annual basis, ranking it as one of the State’s most frequented sporting venues.

The funding will contribute to upgrading the indoor stadium lighting, public address system, scoreboards, electrical, mechanical, fire and hydraulic services and player facilities.

The works will create approximately 12 local jobs and will support the maintenance of the existing 86 full-time, part-time and casual employees of Netball SA at the venue into the future.

Nearly 190,000 people use the Wikaparntu Wira (Park 22) courts each year for school and amateur club games, and more than 300,000 people attend Netball SA Priceline Stadium each year.

Commenting on the funding, South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis stated “in the past two Budgets the State Government has invested heavily to help increase women’s participation in sport.

“Last year we committed $10 million to construct female-friendly facilities at sporting clubs, and this year we are increasing that funding by an additional $14 million, as well as upgrading Priceline Stadium.

“I’m pleased that the State Government is also able to support local clubs and players through this announcement.”

SA Women in Sport Taskforce Chair Katrine Hilldyard added “to achieve gender equality in sport, we must provide facilities that are of a great standard and accessible to girls and women so that they can play the sports they love.

“Investment in local netball gives women and girls better facilities in which to participate, excel and reach for their sporting dreams. This investment demonstrates our commitment to advancing girls and women in sport, achieving gender equality in sport, and taking action that makes real and positive change.”

City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese concluded “the netball courts in the South West Park Lands are one of the best-utilised sporting facilities in the City of Adelaide and we welcome this investment by the State Government.

“Improving sporting facilities in the Park Lands will encourage more participation in sport, increasing levels of physical activity and wellbeing in our community.

“We are pleased to partner with the State Government to deliver a top-grade sporting hub for one of the most popular sports in the country.”

Images: The Park 22 Concept (top) and the Priceline Stadium (below).

23rd June 2017 - COMMUNITY AND ELITE SPORT GETS BACKING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BUDGET 

23rd March 2017 - SPORT SA CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ $10 MILLION INJECTION INTO SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPORT 

14th December 2016 - STRENGTH OF NETBALL’S PARTICIPATION NUMBERS CAP A MASSIVE YEAR IN THE SPORT

9th December 2016 - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PLAN TO GET MORE WOMEN INVOLVED IN SPORT

8th December 2016 - LANDMARK STUDY FINDS SPORT STRUGGLING TO KEEP YOUTH ENGAGED 

2nd October 2016 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA OPENS SPORT FUNDING PROGRAM FOR FEMALE CHANGE ROOMS

21st March 2016 - OVERCOMING THE MOVEMENT SKILLS GENDER DIVIDE

10th November 2015 - MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SPENDING COMMITMENT FOR ADELAIDE PARKS 

4th November 2015 - ADELAIDE PARK LANDS MAKEOVER FUNDS YET TO BE SPENT

26th March 2012 - ETSA ENDS NETBALL SA STADIUM SPONSORSHIP

16th June 2010 - ADELAIDE PARK LANDS UNDER PRESSURE