$35 million for to upgrade metro and regional sports facilities
A bunch of money will be thrown at updating grassroots sports facilities. But there are also rumours some of the state’s biggest ovals will get a multi-million boost.
SA News
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Sporting fields and infrastructure upgrades are set to play a key role in tomorrow’s State Budget for both big and small clubs.
Grassroots sports clubs, in both suburban Adelaide and regional South Australia, are being urged to put up their hand for a share of $35m in grants.
The funding will help pay for new community sporting and recreational infrastructure, Premier Steven Marshall and Sports Minister Corey Wingard announced yesterday morning.
Separate funding is also likely to be earmarked to improve Adelaide’s bigger stadiums.
Hindmarsh Stadium is expected to receive tens of millions of dollars, in addition to the previously announced $3.3m, in a bid to host 2023 Women’s World Cup soccer matches.
The government is remaining tight lipped on other projects, but there is speculation multimillion-dollar upgrades to tennis facilities along Memorial Drive and Netball SA’s Priceline Stadium, at Mile End, are on the cards.
Mr Marshall and Mr Wingard said more sporting codes would be able to apply for money as the Grassroots Football, Cricket and Netball Facility Program was expanded to include all sports. That fund will increase in total budget by $25m in 2020-21 and $10m in 2021-22.
A Regional and Districts Facilities Program, worth $5m a year for the next two years, will also be included in the budget. The programs have been used to fund about 50 upgrades over the past few years – from a new irrigation system at Streaky Bay to a $890,000 major upgrade of two ovals in Whyalla, including unisex change rooms and new lights.
Mr Wingard said the programs would create jobs for South Australians while building what matters for our sporting communities.
Walkerville Sports Club is working on a masterplan for a $12m upgrade, which would include new clubrooms, unisex change rooms and better sporting infrastructure for its football, cricket, netball and softball teams.
Club president Mark Webber said extra funding for grassroots sports clubs was vital to accommodate a growing number of players and build community pride.
“The research shows that if you’ve got up-to-date, quality sporting facilities then you get a strong uptake from juniors,” Mr Webber said.
In June, The Sunday Mail revealed concerns about the sports program and fears of pork-barrelling. Those concerns have been dismissed by the government.