Thursday, 10 February 2022

Shepparton sports and events centre

Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (22:21): (1737) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Regional Development, and it concerns funding for the redevelopment of the Shepparton Sports Stadium. The action I seek from the minister is that she gives a commitment to provide funding of $20 million, being the state government’s share of the approximately $60 million first stage of the redevelopment of the Shepparton Sports Stadium to create the Shepparton sports and events centre.

The Shepparton Sports City precinct is home to world-class facilities for many different sports, including soccer, netball, BMX racing, hockey and athletics. The facilities are of such high standard that Shepparton regularly hosts national and international sporting events, generating substantial economic benefits for the region. The final piece of the sporting infrastructure required to complete the sports city precinct is the transformation of the Shepparton Sports Stadium into the Shepparton sports and events centre.

The current stadium opened in 1972 as a two-court facility, the only major upgrade occurring in 1994 with the construction of two additional basketball courts. Greater Shepparton City Council plan for the Shepparton sports and events centre project to be delivered in three stages, with stage 1 costed at approximately $60 million, jointly funded by the state and federal governments, Greater Shepparton City Council, the Munarra Centre and user groups. Stage 1 of the project includes the design and construction of three new multipurpose courts, a 3000-seat retractable grandstand, new wet area amenities, an administration hub and a car park.

A full cost-benefit analysis has been completed, which found the project will have a total regional benefit output of $68 million and create 235 jobs in the local community during construction. Additional events attracted because of the completed project would generate an additional 24 000 visitors to Greater Shepparton each year, equating to an annual visitor spend into the local economy of $12.3 million.

I have advocated for the Andrews Labor government to help fund this project for over four years, but the only response I receive is the advice for the local council to apply for a grant of up to $1.5 million. This is in stark contrast to the generous financial support provided by the Andrews Labor government for similar facilities in Ballarat, Traralgon and Knox. Labor provided $9 million, or close to 40 per cent of the cost of the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre; $17 million of the $19 million cost of the Traralgon Sports Stadium; and $82 million of the $107 million to build the basketball facility in Knox. The Shepparton sports and events centre will change the face of sports and entertainment in the Goulburn Valley, and I urge the minister to commit the state government’s share of the funding for the project.