Remote facility builds on community support

Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron has opened a new multi-purpose sports court for the remote Aboriginal community of Punmu, citing the facility as a wonderful example of what could be achieved when communities worked together.

The new undercover facility was purpose built to counter extreme heat and allow the community to still play sport when the outside temperature was 45 degrees plus.

Through the Western Australian Department of Sport and Recreation, the Western Australian Government provided planning assistance and funding of $340,000 from the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund towards the project.

Minister Waldron explained âI am ecstatic to be involved in the opening of a sporting facility that will bring so much enjoyment to this community.

"This multi-purpose court is the culmination of a project that has been worked through by innovative and tenacious communities more than a thousand kilometres apart."

The Margaret River Rotary Club was a driving force behind the project, taking on a project management role with support from the local Rawa Community School, Newcrest Mining and the Punmu community.

This, together with a local community cash contribution of $170,000, volunteer labour and donated materials through Newcrest Mining, saw the facility built.

Minister Waldron added âit is heartening that the Rawa Community School, the Margaret River Rotary Club, the East Pilbara Shire, Newcrest Mining, the Western Australian Department of Sport and Recreation and of course the local community were able to pool resources and energy to bring this project to fruition.

"I hope the community gets a lot of enjoyment and healthy physical activity playing on this court."