ACT Government to develop $1 million beach volleyball facility

The ACT Government is moving forward with plans to develop a $1 million six-court complex beach volleyball facility.

To be built in the suburb of Lyneham, with Volleyball ACT contributing $250,000 to the project cost, the ACT Government’s backing for the project has been widely criticised.

However, with Volleyball ACT having more than 3,700 registered players, 1,200 of whom play beach volleyball, the Association has predicted that the new facility will contribute to a doubling of participation numbers in five years.

Backing the facility, ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr has previously stated “this is a good thing for the city to add to the range of sports infrastructure that we have.

“(Volleyball ACT) is very confident about the variety of different uses, from community level activities to territory wide to national and potentially international level competition.

“Let's get it built and see where we go from there.”

With a planning application currently before the ACT Government, the facility is expected to be operational by early 2015.

The ACT Government is also providing funding to another 66 sport and recreation organisations in 2014.

Among the projects to be funded is replacement of indoor flooring for Hockey ACT ($150,000), six-man outrigger canoes for Canberra Ice Dragons ($11,850); and tennis court refurbishments at Belconnen West Tennis Club ($26,500) and Weston Creek Tennis Club ($90,000).