Canberra has the highest community sport participation rate in the country but does not have the facilities to meet demand across most sporting codes. Many sports are oversubscribed with organisers forced to turn players away. Sport and physical recreation is central to the health and vitality of our communities and the individuals who comprise them. It is unjustifiable to be turning willing participants away given the huge physical, mental and social health benefits.
The major projects in this vision for Canberra should be supported by a series of smaller infrastructure upgrades that demonstrate a commitment to the future of community sport in the ACT.
Viking Park could be upgraded into a state-of-the-art boutique stadium with capacity for 10,000 people. Not only has Canberra reached a size justifying investment in an attractive suburban stadium, but our major sporting teams are also likely to need a venue capable of drawing and supporting a significant crowd during the construction of the new Canberra stadium.
The viability of Phillip Pool should be guaranteed into the future or, if the current arrangement makes that impossible, then we need an equivalent alternative to service the people of Woden Valley.
Our community wants to see key commitments in the ACT Government’s Entertainment, Arts & Sports Infrastructure Plan delivered in a timely manner and other community sporting infrastructure gaps addressed urgently, including:
- A new ice facility in Tuggeranong;
- Addressing the Throsby Home of Football funding shortfall;
- A new Gungahlin Tennis Centre
- Upgrades to Phillip District Enclosed Oval;
- A new Dragon Boat Facility at Grevillea Park;
- Expanding the Belconnen Basketball Stadium;
- Improving court availability for volleyball, futsal and other indoor sports – especially in Tuggeranong and Woden Valley – either through the expansion of existing facilities or the establishment of new ones;
- Expanding the Lyneham Hockey Centre;
- Enclosing the Gungahlin College Basketball Courts for all-weather use;
- Resurfacing netball facilities across Canberra;
- Renewing playing fields across Canberra to address concerns from multiple sporting organisations – including from rugby union, rugby league, athletics, Aussie rules, cricket – and more about the lack of amenities, deteriorating facilities, poor lighting, absence of female change rooms and growing costs of maintenance.
Federal funding should be committed to provide greater certainty for all of these projects and shorten the timelines on their delivery.