Liberals promise George Kendall Reserve, Kilpack Park, Monty Bennett Oval upgrades

The race for votes is getting physical with young athletes to benefit from millions of dollars worth of Liberal funding at eroding sports fields across the suburbs.

Sports grounds and parks at Ermington, Carlingford and Wentworthville are getting upgrades as the race to gain Liberal votes in the Parramatta and Bennelong electorates heats up.

Bennelong Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy has pledged $2.5 million along with $2.5 million from Parramatta Council to support the upgrade of George Kendall Riverside Park at Ermington with an Aussie rules field, cricket pitch and girls’ change rooms.

He said the site would be transformed from an “unusable park” into Aussie rules oval and cricket fields as well as upgrade to irrigation, drainage, lighting and public amenities for the Parramatta Lions Junior AFL Club, North Ryde Dockers Junior AFL Club and Northern District Junior Cricket Association.

“This investment will help to boost grassroots participation, particularly among the junior footballers and cricketers,” Mr Kennedy said.

Parramatta Lions Junior AFL president Club Brad Main said the funding would back its plan to boost female participation in the sport.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to promote the code to a wider audience,’’ he said.

“Having a modern, purpose-built facility will help us promote the code to new players, particularly girls who will have access to their own change rooms.’’

Northern District Cricket Association president Shane Cotton has “warmly welcomed the investment in grassroots cricket” after more than one third of the recent season had been lost partly because of the poor drainage system at George Kendall park.

Simon Kennedy (centre) with young players at George Kendall Riverside Park, Ermington.

“Our players need access to playing fields that are more weather-resistant, with modern drainage systems,’’ he said.

“This investment will minimise play lost and increase participation.”

At Carlingford, the Liberals have also chipped in $500,000 for a children’s playground at Kilpack Park to include a large, dedicated play space to draw families and teenagers.

Parramatta Council will co-fund the $1 million project to reinvigorate the park with an improved canopy over a larger dedicated play space and equipment for older children.

“The park upgrade will deliver additional social infrastructure for Carlingford residents, environmental improvements, play equipment for kids and fitness equipment for adults,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Currently there is no dedicated play equipment in Carlingford for teenage children.’’

At Wentworthville, the Liberals have promised $500,000 into Wenty Leagues Cricket Club’s home ground Monty Bennett Oval.

If re-elected, the funding will allow the club to remove the outdated amenities building, reconstruct and extend change rooms for men and women, build toilet cubicles and showers with lockable doors, update storage facilities, build shade and shelter for players and spectators and provide new drinking water facilities.

The club had more than 550 senior and junior players, including three girls teams, making it the largest cricket club in the Parramatta District Cricket Association.

“Sport is at the heart of our community and our support will ensure it can provide safe, fit-for-purpose facilities for current and future members,” Liberal candidate for Parramatta, Maria Kovacic, said.

She said the Wenty Leagues Cricket Club was an important part of the community.

“The club not only has a strong contingent of female teams, it’s also culturally diverse, with more than 90 per cent of players coming from diverse backgrounds,” she said.

“We all know that sport keeps us fit and healthy, but it’s also important for our mental well-being, deepening community ties and connections, and providing a great social outlet.”

Wenty Leagues’ netball and junior rugby league clubs will also share the facilities.

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