Victorian Government releases community sports infrastructure report
A new report from the Victorian Government has outlined the impacts of more than 330 community sports projects that it has completed over the past two years.
The Community Sports Infrastructure 2024 Outcomes Statement - a Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV) report advises that, in the last two years, these projects have increased participation by almost 43% or more than 70,200 new participants, including a 19% increase in girls playing sport.
It also found that local economies have been boosted with more than 1,170 full-time jobs supported in the delivery of more than $538 million worth of infrastructure across Victoria.
Launching the report, Victorian Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence stated “Victorians love their community sport, and this statement shows just how important grassroots venues are, providing facilities that deliver health, social, and economic benefits to local communities.
“We are continuing to upgrade and build sport infrastructure that is accessible, inclusive and improves the health and wellbeing of all Victorians.”
Minister Spence went on to stated thatpartnerships with councils, sporting clubs, sporting organisations and schools have driven a range of health, social and economic benefits underpinned by the delivery of innovative and inclusive infrastructure.
One project was the redevelopment of the Diamond Valley Sport and Fitness Centre, delivered in partnership with Nillumbik Shire Council, and made possible by a $10.5 million Victorian Government investment. A year after the Centre re-opened in July 2022, participation increased more than 27%, the report stated.
A 24-hour gymnasium, additional courts and upgraded facilities have supported this increase with the Centre hosting a wide range of activities from junior basketball matches through to NBL1 fixtures.
A landmark report undertaken by KMPG for SRV in 2020 quantified the annual contribution of Victoria’s community sports infrastructure to the economy to be at least $7 billion.
Click here to find out more about the Community Sports Infrastructure 2024 Outcomes Statement.
Image: Nillumbik Shire's Diamond Valley Sport and Fitness Centre.
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