Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Macedon Ranges regional sports precinct

Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development) (12:25): Sport plays such a powerful role in the everyday life of our communities, and when sports clubs tell us they lack the facilities they need to play the sports they love it means that the effects are felt by everyone. It means parents miss out on friendships formed on the sidelines, it means our kids miss out on the chance to develop teamwork and physical skills, and it means part of the glue that binds our communities comes unstuck. That is why in 2018 the Andrews Labor government made a commitment to the people of my electorate that we would contribute our fair share to get the Macedon Ranges regional sports precinct built.

In 2019 we stuck to our word, and we delivered a massive $11.6 million to get the sports hub up and running. And when the Macedon Ranges Shire Council asked for a further commitment so works could start we made sure to deliver an additional $3.2 million. The federal government have had nine years to be part of this project, and we are yet to see a single dollar for the precinct from the Morrison government. The people of my electorate will not forget this.

However, with $14.8 million from the government ready to go, I am pleased to see that the shire is calling for tenders now, but it is time to start work. It is time for us to see some bricks and mortar. I call on the council to make best use of the funding that has been made available to them from the Andrews Labor government and to build the regional sports precinct now.