http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20080404020
Mr NINOS KHOSHABA (Smithfield) [12.31 p.m.]: I refer to two councils in my electorate of Smithfield—Fairfield City Council and Holroyd City Council—that both received funding for sporting facilities under the New South Wales Government's 2007-08 Sport and Recreation Capital Assistance Program.
I am pleased that the commitment by the Iemma Government to sport and recreation means that local sporting groups like those in my electorate will directly benefit from improved facilities. Volunteer parents, who devote time throughout the week, often run these sporting groups and weekend competitions to make sure our children have the opportunity to enjoy sport at its best in the fresh outdoors.
By engaging in team sports, our young are building their confidence and their abilities; they are putting their energy into something productive and good. They are also learning the values of teamwork and the importance of trust and friendship.
The upgrades to their facilities have been made possible because of the Sport and Recreation Capital Assistance Program. I welcome this program and thank the Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Hon. Graham West, who visited my electorate recently to meet with some of the sporting groups, the Mayor of Fairfield City Council, Nick Lalich, and the Mayor of Holroyd City Council, Dr John Brodie. Councillors Alan Ezzy, Doug Bouchier and Ken Morrisey also attended. Also in attendance was the president of the Goannas club, Mr John Perry, several players from the Goannas Australian Football League team, several players from the Wetherill Park cricket team and lots of parents and children.
Fairfield City Council received $15,907, which assisted with the construction of two new cricket nets at Terone Park. This now means cricket enthusiasts will be able to enjoy an upgrade to their facilities at this popular local park. Terone Park, in the suburb of Bossley Park, is home to many sporting and recreational users. As I spent most of my life living in Bossley Park I know firsthand the importance of Terone Park and other parks in the area. I have several fond memories of playing sports on that field and I know that the residents will take much pleasure in using these new cricket nets.
Holroyd City Council received $30,000 for the renovation and resurfacing of the oval at Gipps Road Sporting complex in Greystanes. Gipps Road sporting complex plays an important part in the Holroyd area. It is a sporting complex that hosts many sports, including athletics, baseball and football codes, to name just a few. Locally it is a ground that is used for training and for playing and attending sports matches. This funding will provide a boost for the community. The Gipps Road sporting complex is one of our premier sporting grounds and this grant to renovate and restore the surface oval will help keep it that way. Many talented athletes use that facility and they will now have access to improved services, which will provide a safer playing field and no doubt increase their sporting performance.
I understand that this year a total of $4 million has been allocated under the State Government's Sports Capital Assistance Program for 299 sporting facility projects across the State. Since the start of this funding program in 2003, there have been 1,674 projects funded. This program importantly helps local councils and not-for-profit sport and recreation groups to develop sports facilities for the community by funding up to 50 per cent of a project's net cost.
It is helping communities to build facilities that support their local athletes and encourage better health and wellbeing. I have warmly welcomed this funding to two locations within my electorate of Smithfield, and I am hopeful that many more projects in my area will be successful recipients in the coming year. We want to see more people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in sport and physical exercise, and these grants assist to do just that.
I represent a diverse group of people, with different needs, in my electorate. However, a common factor among us all is the need to have the luxury of being able to go to an open space for our kids to enjoy sporting parklands and to cheer on our winning teams.
As a community and a country we love our sports. We are passionate about our successes and at the grassroots level we are positively contributing to the success of our next sporting generation.
Additionally, and also importantly, these grants support community initiatives to counter obesity among young people and to promote fitness in older people. The Government is committed to ensuring people have more opportunities to participate in their chosen sport or recreational activity with the aim of good health for all in the community.
I thank the Iemma Government for the Sport and Recreation Capital Assistance Program and especially the Minister, the Hon. Graham West, for not only approving the grants but, more importantly, for taking time out of his very busy schedule to come to my electorate and announce them.
