Thursday, 16 November 2023

Ministers statements: community sport funding

Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (14:16): I am so pleased to rise today to update the house on the Allan Labor government’s commitment to sport and active recreation in Victoria. Last month I visited Ross Reserve in Noble Park along with member for South-Eastern Metropolitan in the other place Lee Tarlamis and Eden Foster, our outstanding candidate for Mulgrave. The new soccer pitch at Ross Reserve is well underway thanks to our $1.75 million investment, and this builds on the more than $6.5 million that this government has invested in Ross Reserve over the past four years, giving people the facilities they need in their local community. Can I just say, nobody understands the importance and the need for this investment better than Eden Foster. As a councillor and a mayor, Eden has been closely involved in ensuring Mulgrave residents benefit from investment in high-quality active recreation facilities.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Berwick can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Berwick withdrew from chamber.

Ros SPENCE: But Ross Reserve is not the only beneficiary of the Allan Labor government’s investment in community sport and active recreation. Right across the road at Noble Park Aquatic Centre we have invested $3.3 million into the health and wellbeing gym. At the last election $2 million was committed to vital lighting upgrades at Springvale Reserve.

These investments are not outliers. Right across the state we are committed to investing in infrastructure to get Victorians active. Whether it is in Benalla, where we are investing $15 million in the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre, the $10 million at RecWest in Footscray or the $1.25 million at Portland Gymnastics Club, this is all part of the Allan Labor government’s $1.9 billion investment since 2014.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for South-West Coast, you can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for South-West Coast withdrew from chamber.