Thursday, 3 August 2023

Commonwealth Games

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:20): (221) My question is for the Minister for Regional Development.

Harriet Shing interjected.

Bev McARTHUR: Isn’t it wonderful? The Victorian government – that is your show – committed to providing $292 million for the delivery of purpose-built multisport venues in Waurn Ponds and Armstrong Creek as part of its preparation for the Commonwealth Games, now since departed. Will the government guarantee local residents and sporting clubs that the $292 million commitment to Geelong’s sporting facilities will still be provided in full?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:21): Thank you, Mrs McArthur. It is actually really good to continue the conversation that we had at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, including on –

Bev McArthur interjected.

Harriet SHING: It was good. It was good to have you there, particularly where, Mrs McArthur –

Members interjecting.

Harriet SHING: You did not seek to quote me out of context, at least, Mrs McArthur, so you are well ahead of your colleagues there. What I would want to assure you, Mrs McArthur, is that there is as part of this $2 billion fund a $550 million commitment to make sure that that permanent sporting infrastructure is delivered to those areas across the four hub locations and of course at Shepparton. This includes the projects that have been listed publicly on many, many occasions. The work and the preplanning has already been undertaken to a significant degree. It has been great to meet with councils across all four of those hub locations and then within, more broadly, the other areas around rural and regional Victoria to talk about the delivery of that permanent sports infrastructure. So we are in a position to bring that work forward and to deliver that in full, and I am looking forward to continuing to update you, Mrs McArthur, on the progress of that work as it continues.

We do want to make sure that into the future we have facilities that are where communities want them to be and that have the scope and the access and the facilities and the amenity that communities want now and also into the future. The idea of legacy is about contemplating and leaning in to population growth as well as making sure that we have access for all members of the community to participate in getting out there, getting active and getting fit, whether that is through participation in training or competition or whether it is part of being a member of a club, a spectator, a volunteer or one of the many families that is involved in that work.

Mrs McArthur, I cannot wait to see that we do have an opportunity together to work on delivery of that $550 million permanent sports infrastructure. For Armstrong Creek that means a new aquatic centre with an enclosed swimming pool, indoor recreation, sports courts and car parking; for Waurn Ponds, a multipurpose indoor sports centre, regional level gymnastics and dance studio and car parking; for Corio, a Stead Park hockey pavilion upgrade, new pitch and seating; and for Banyul-Warri Fields in Torquay, a new training pitch and seating.

They are the projects as have been listed, but again, Mrs McArthur, it is a journey. It is a conversation with communities to make sure that delivery of these projects is what communities want them to be now and into the future. There are a series of round tables coming up, Mrs McArthur. As I have done with every other member of this place, I extend a very warm invitation for you to attend one of those conversations and meetings.

The PRESIDENT: Mrs McArthur, a member of the opposition, asked a question, and then the opposition yelled to the point that no-one could hear the answer to Mrs McArthur’s question, which is, I find, a bit weird. Mrs McArthur, have a go at a supplementary and see if you can hear the answer.

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:25): Thank you, President. I will press on. And I am looking forward to the invitation; I am sure it is in the mail, Minister. As recently as 29 March, your government press release – this document here – said:

Work on the design of both venues will commence immediately …

What have you got to show for it so far, Minister, and will your government commit to those local residents and sporting clubs in Victoria’s regional communities that the delivery – the delivery, not the talking about it and thinking about it – of purpose-built venues is still on course to be delivered in full prior to March 2026, when the Commonwealth Games was due to be held, especially given it took you 500 days to get gates on a railway station?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:25): Mrs McArthur, it is a shame that you taper off right at the very end of your questions, because I always do look for a punchline and one never seems to arrive. What I would encourage you to –

Members interjecting.

Harriet SHING: Boxing – there we go. What I would encourage you, Mrs McArthur, to talk with people about is the fact that, because there is no need for temporary infrastructure to be overlaid onto community facilities and commissioned, constructed and then dismantled and relocated, we are now in a position to move ahead with that permanent infrastructure right now. We have done, as I indicated in the answer to your substantive question, a significant amount of planning. Mrs McArthur, I cannot wait to actually keep you apprised of the progress of this work as it continues. We are absolutely determined to deliver these facilities and we will deliver these facilities, and I look forward to seeing you in the front row at the opening, cheering, Mrs McArthur, as I hope you will.

The PRESIDENT: I am going to assume everyone heard that answer.