Otium Planning Group reports on options for improving access to indoor facilities across Canberra

The ACT Government has released the Planning for Indoor Facilities and Other Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Report completed by Otium Planning Group, which focuses on indoor sports with the highest participation rates in Canberra.

As recommended in the ACT Indoor Sports Facilities Study, the Report specifically focuses on future facility planning for futsal, basketball and gymnastics in the ACT, and identifies Belconnen, Gungahlin and Woden as possible regions for expanded or new indoor sport facilities.

Canberra is a growing city and one of the most active in Australia. As the city grows there is a need for more indoor sporting facilities so people can continue to enjoy participating in the sports of their choice.

The ACT Government’s response to the report includes clear and practical action in partnership with these sports:
• Capital Football on the new ‘Home of Football’ in Throsby, which will include indoor futsal courts, funded in the 2019 Budget
• Gymnastics ACT to scope a new State Training Centre in Belconnen, and
• Basketball ACT to explore further provision of basketball facilities in the Belconnen region.

The report and the ACT Government’s response prioritise sport infrastructure projects identified by peak sporting bodies, which consider the needs of all their participants across the ACT.

The Report also encourages the government to continue to work with the private sector and with other sports on a case-by-case basis to deliver facilities to meet their respective needs and the ACT Government will continue to look for these opportunities.

Capital Football Chief Executive, Phil Brown stated “we, as a sport, look forward to working with the ACT Government to include indoor futsal courts as part of the ‘Home of Football’ development at Throsby.

"Futsal continues to grow in popularity for both males and females and the provision of dedicated facilities will help Capital Football meet existing and future demand."

Chief Executive of Gymnastics ACT, Bradley Low added "the development of a Gymnastics State Training Centre would create significant opportunities to grow our sport in Canberra. We are ready to work with the ACT Government to progress the preliminary planning and design requirements for this facility.”

Basketball ACT President, Allan Yates also shared his views, commenting “Basketball ACT is excited to partner with the ACT Government to investigate opportunities to expand the provision of basketball facilities in Belconnen. As the popularity of our sport increases, the further provision of facilities will help ensure we can cater for the next generation of Opals and Boomers players.”

The ACT Government will also continue to investigate how to make better use of existing indoor sporting facilities at our public schools. Recent improvements at a number of schools across Canberra have provided around 70 additional hours per week of community access to indoor sporting facilities.

The final report considered recommendations from the 2016 ACT Indoor Sports Facility Study and feedback received from Basketball ACT, Capital Football, Gymnastics ACT and the Woden, Belconnen and Gungahlin Community Councils.

This report can be found with the full government response at www.sport.act.gov.au.