Labor unveils $90m family sport pledge as Libs launch ‘Gladys bus’

Opposition Leader Michael Daley today makes his $90m play for the family sporting vote, as it can be revealed he and Premier Gladys Berejiklian will go head-to-head with campaign launches on the same day. INTERACTIVE: RACE FOR YOUR VOTE

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Local ovals across Sydney will get floodlighting so they can be used at night to help ease the burden on overcrowded sports fields as part of an $90 million Labor sports package.

Adults will also receive free swimming lessons under an initiative with Surf Life Saving NSW, while western Sydney will receive a $10 million Basketball Centre of Excellence as part of the “sports first” package to be unveiled today.

Labor leader Michael Daley said the package also includes funding to build new netball courts or upgrade neglected ones and improve disabled access to recreational venues in the bush in a bid to meet growing demand for better community sporting facilities.

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“At the moment we have kids and sporting teams who can’t find fields to train on because of shocking overcrowding — netball and basketball teams playing on courts that are outdated,” Mr Daley told The Sunday Telegraph.

Referring to the government’s plans to rebuild Allianz Stadium, he added: “While the Liberal government is giving major stadiums a golden hand out, we are about giving local sports and teams and facilities a badly needed hand up.”

The unprecedented demand for playing fields has resulted in a sports field crisis, with some clubs being forced to juggle, restrict or turn away locals wanting to join sporting teams.

The scramble for space has been blamed on Sydney’s soaring population, with more five million residents calling Sydney home last year, up by 100,000 on the previous year.

At the Earlwood Wanderers Football Club, where membership is expected to top 1000 this year, up to 12 teams are forced to share the same field at the same time.

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley. Picture: Dean Lewins

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: /Dan Himbrechts

With 93 teams representing the Earlwood Wanderers Football Club — up from 81 last year — the juggle for space was expected to be worse this year, club president George Markos said.

He said the club had access to three grounds — Earlwood Oval, Beaman Park and Hughes Park — which can be used from 5pm to 9pm during the football season as they are lit up at night.

The space issues would be alleviated if two neighbouring fields — Beaumont Park and Yatama Park — also had floodlights so they could be used in winter, he said.

The proposed Adult Swim Safe scheme targets western and southwestern Sydney residents who were over-represented in drowning figures, with participants to get both swimming and surf safety lessons.

The pilot program would involve surf life savers travelling to western Sydney to teach core surf safety survival skills at local aquatic facilities.

With basketball one of the State’s fastest growing sports, Labor also wants to set up a centre in western Sydney to help young players wanting to pursue a career in the sport.

Mr Daley’s announcement comes as he and Premier Gladys Berejiklian will go head-to-head with both their campaign launches to be held on March 10.

Earwood Football Club president George Markos with players Molly Nash, Athan Makris, and Sam Makris. The club is being forced to play 12 teams on the one field at any one time due to explosion of members. Picture: Richard Dobson

In a sign the NSW Liberals are seriously concerned about losing the seat of Penrith, the party has chosen to hold its launch in the western Sydney electorate.

Held by Sports Minister Stuart Ayres with an 6.2 per cent margin, Labor candidate Karen McKeown is hoping to secure votes with a campaign focused on bringing back the M4 toll cashback while Mr Ayres has pledged upgrades to sporting facilities.

Labor has chosen to hold its launch in the marginal seat of East Hills, which is held by the Liberals with an 0.4 per cent margin.

The revelation of the NSW Liberals launch date comes as the party unveils its bus today, with the blue coach set to hit the road immediately.

Gladys Berejiklian’s election bus. Picture: Supplied

Emblazed with the Liberal Party campaign logo “Let’s Get It Done NSW”, the bus features a giant “Gladys & the NSW Liberals Taking the pressure off you” across the side.

Labor, which launched its red bus four weeks ago in Seven Hills, has already travelled to the north coast, South Coast and the bush.

Ms Berejiklian Mr Daley and Nationals leader John Barilaro stepped up their electorate visits last week, with all three making multiple daily announcements in key battleground seats.

Clocking up the most miles was Mr Barilaro, who travelled to Broken Hill to announce a $37.5 million extension to the Wild Dog Exclusion Fence before heading back to Sydney for a jobs announcement in western Sydney.

The deputy premier made several visits to his own seat of Monaro, which is the fourth most marginal seat in the State for the Coalition.