- Published:
- Tuesday 5 May 2015
The Andrews Labor Government will upgrade community sports facilities, build more female change rooms and provide life-saving defibrillators to sports clubs to help more Victorians get active and get out on the pitch.
The 2015-16 Victorian Budget provides $226 million to support the community sports clubs and upgrade stadiums and venues across the state so they can host more events and hold more spectators.
Local sports clubs are the heart and soul of our suburbs and regional towns. The Budget establishes a $100 million Community Sports Infrastructure Fund to help local clubs upgrade tired grounds and build the facilities they need.
Even though women are joining community sports clubs in record figures, women’s change rooms are too often rundown or non-existent. The Budget provides $10 million to build and upgrade women’s change rooms at grounds and sports centres across the state, because every player deserves equal facilities.
Netball is one of Melbourne’s fastest growing sports. The Budget provides $9.6 million to build 64 netball courts in inner-city Melbourne, so clubs can keep up with the demand and keep the sport growing. The Budget also provides $2 million for the Country Football Netball Program to continue.
A player down on a footy field is a parent’s worst nightmare, and when cardiac arrest strikes, every minute counts. The Budget provides $2.7 million to make 1000 life-saving defibrillators available to sports clubs across the state, so spectators and players can step in until paramedics arrive.
Victoria is the sporting capital of the world, but we need to upgrade our venues so they can join the MCG in the league of great Australian sporting arenas and keep hosting the major events that put our state on the map.
The Budget provides $70 million to upgrade Geelong’s Simonds Stadium, building a new grandstand, improving facilities for spectators and increasing the ground’s capacity to 36,000. The new facilities at Australia’s most iconic regional stadium will include a rehabilitation centre to help people with a disability return to work.
The Budget also provides $31.5 million to upgrade Eureka Stadium so it can host AFL games and $25 million to develop the State Cricket Centre at the historic Junction Oval in St Kilda – creating the new home of Victorian cricket and freeing up the MCG for the start of the AFL season. $150,000 will be provided for the St Kilda Football Club to undertake planning works so the Saints can move back to their spiritual home at Moorabbin.
An active family is a healthy family. The Budget provides $14 million to encourage more people to get outdoors, take up a sport and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Active Communities Participation package also supports high performance athlete development and helps people living with a disability to participate.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, John Eren
“Community sport is the heart and soul of our suburbs and towns, bringing families and locals together. The Andrews Labor Government will upgrade facilities across the state to help these clubs grow.”
“Victoria is the sporting capital of the world, and with a new life for Simonds Stadium and a new home for Victorian cricket at Junction Oval, more venues will join the ‘G’ in the league of great Australian sporting arenas.”
“A player down on a footy field is a parent’s worst nightmare. That’s why we’re providing 1000 defibrillators to local sports clubs, because every second counts in an emergency.”