ACT Government to fund sport facility upgrades

The ACT Government's 2013-14 Budget continues to support sport and recreation, to ensure Canberrans continue to have access to top-class sporting facilities and programs.

On average Canberrans are the healthiest and most active people in Australia, with the Budget investing $29 million in new and existing programs and facilities.

As well as $3.4 million for new initiatives to improve facilities for community sport and recreation, the Budget includes an existing $14.3 million for maintenance of government-owned sports facilities across Canberra, and $2.8 million for local sporting organisations, to help them fund operational requirements, infrastructure and development projects, and participation in national leagues.

Initiatives to be undertaken in 2013-14 include:

Lyneham Sports Precinct - Central Amenities: funding of $500,000 will support the design of a central amenities 'hub' within Southwell Park as the final component of the broader precinct project. The design will incorporate new change rooms, amenities, canteen and recreational elements to activate the centre of this important community sporting asset.

Greenway Oval Improvements: $40,000 for design work on an upgrade to the existing facilities at the oval.

Netball infrastructure upgrades: $200,000 for the design of facility upgrades at the various ageing netball facilities across the Territory in order to improve their safety, quality and accessibility.

Melrose Synthetic Football Facility: $200,000 for the detailed design work of synthetic football pitches as part of a football centre of excellence at Melrose High School.

Narrabundah Velodrome Upgrade: $650,000 for the remediation of the Narrabundah Velodrome after its closure due to safety reasons. This will ensure the velodrome is safe and functional, with work aimed for completion by December 2013.

Indoor Sport Infrastructure Study: $50,000 for a study to assess the need for additional indoor sports space in Canberra, the type of space that might be required and possible sites.

Sports Grants (Asset Repair and Maintenance Scheme): Funding of $400,000 to provide extra funding within the existing Sport and Recreation Grants Program to specifically support community sporting organisations to undertake repairs and maintenance to facilities that they own, manage and/or lease.

Increasing maintenance of sports grounds: Funding of $500,000 to provide additional staff to keep pace with the growth of facilities and the demand for maintenance. Increasing maintenance will assist in providing quality playing surfaces that meet community expectations.

Co-location of Racing Codes: $250,000 to conduct a feasibility study and cost benefit analysis into the possibility of co-locating the three racing codes harness, thoroughbred and greyhound at a single site.

Multicultural Sport Grants: Funding of $104,000 over four years to support the active participation of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in sport and recreation.

Community Parks: The Budget provides $754,000 towards the construction and operation of a Community Recreation Irrigated Park in Franklin, which will provide local residents with a high quality recreation space for a range of informal sport, recreation and physical activities.

Community Recreation Irrigated Parks are a new model of suburban park, providing a wide range of sport and recreation opportunities.

University of Canberra Sports Commons: The ACT Government is providing a $13.5 million package towards the University of Canberra (UC) Sports Commons project.

The UC Sports Commons will support community sporting organisations, enhance learning for university and school students and build on the university's reputation as Australia's leading university for sport education.

The package includes: a $5 million grant to UC for the precinct; a $1 million grant to the ACT Brumbies, funding for which will be transferred to this project; and a $7.5 million tax waiver on the Brumbies' Griffith development.

11th April 2012 - TENNIS ACT UNVEILS PLANS FOR LYNEHAM NATIONAL SPORTS CLUB