Soccer and netball players in Melbourne’s west will benefit from brand new sports facilities, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Parliamentary Secretary for Education Judith Graley today visited Tarneit West Primary School to announce a $1.25 million investment in sports facilities to be used by the entire community as part of the $50 million Shared Facilities Fund.
The funding boost will go towards lighting for the school’s netball courts and a brand new synthetic soccer pitch that won’t become water logged or muddy during heavy rain. This will help to meet the fast-growing demand for soccer and netball facilities in the Tarneit area.
The Labor Government allocated $13 million in the last year’s Budget to build a new primary school in Tarneit, which is due to open for term one next year.
It includes two classroom buildings, an administration building with an art room, library, reception and administration facilities, a gymnasium with competition-grade netball facilities, canteen, music room and two outdoor netball courts.
The facilities for the new school have been designed with the surrounding landscape in mind so that natural elements will form an important part of how students learn and play.
The layout has also been designed so that there are pockets for community and parent gatherings, and for multi-use spaces so that rooms can be used as meeting areas after school hours.
The Labor Government’s Shared Facilities Fund supports schools, local councils and other institutions to develop facilities that will increase access to local services and participation by the community.
This includes not only sports facilities but early learning hubs, libraries and performing arts centres.
The new sports facilities will help the schools meet Education State targets of increasing physical activity among students. This includes raising the proportion of kids doing physical activity five times a week by 20 per cent.
Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Education Judith Graley
“We are putting schools at the centre of our neighbourhoods, building sporting and cultural facilities that the entire community can be proud of.”
”This is another step in the transformation of the Tarneit community as it counts down to the opening of the new primary school in January. You never know, these improved sports facilities could help unearth the next Harry Kewell or Caitlin Basset.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020