$5m stadium at Pat Gallagher Centre a massive boost for netball in Alice Springs

THE injection of a further $2.25 million by the NT Government will ensure a national-standard, four-court netball stadium can be built at the Pat Gallagher Netball Centre.

Adam Giles and Damien Ryan with Alice Springs Netball representatives

THE injection of a further $2.25 million by the NT Government will ensure a national-standard, four-court netball stadium can be built at the Pat Gallagher Netball Centre.

Chief Minister Adam Giles announced the extra grant, in addition to the $2 million grant he announced in April, at the end of the extraordinary netball meeting at the courts on Saturday.

It brings the total available to the project, including $750,000 combined from an Alice Springs business and the Alice Springs Town Council, to $5 million for developing and building a first class indoor stadium.

It will be the only dedicated indoor netball facility in the Territory and will be capable of holding national titles and ANZ Championship teams as well as the local teams and the Alice Springs Masters Games.

Alice Springs Netball Association president Robyn Donnelly and ASNA project officer Tony Smith were delighted by the Giles announcement.

“There was total support for the four-court stadium at the meeting,” Donnelly said.

“We will target regional championships as well as the major competitions.

“The project will be managed by the NT Government and will be going out to tender with hopefully local businesses being able to be part of the construction.

“We are also hoping that there will be enough funds for ancillary items such as an office, canteen and toilets in the facility.”

Smith said that some preliminary costings had already been received and that the NT Government would be in a position to call for tenders in early December or January with the building up by the end of April and the internals complete by the end of May.

“This will affect the start of the 2016 season but we are looking at contingency plans for those game,” he said.

“There is also a fair amount of consultations to be held with local residents, other sporting groups and the town council.”

Ongoing maintenance is one of the issues ASNA will have to discuss the council.

Mr Giles sat through the meeting on Saturday morning where ASNA members were told about various options as they stood.

“After listening to all the stakeholders at a meeting on Saturday, I am announcing a

further $2.25 million towards the project,” he said..

“I was pleased on Saturday to hear from the whole netball community about what they want from a new indoor facility, and it was made clear to me that they want a multi-court fully enclosed facility.

“My government will assist in funding a multi-court indoor stadium so the netball community can flourish into the future and reach its full potential.

“I want to thank local identity Tony Smith for his passion for the project and his investment and

also congratulate the Alice Springs Town Council for their funding commitment.”

Patron of the Alice Springs Netball Association and Member for Greatorex Matt Conlan, is thrilled his lobbying has paid dividends for the local netball community.

“I have been a big supporter of netball in Alice Springs over the years through my fundraising with Saturday morning barbecues and my family’s involvement in the sport,” he said.

“A constant issue raised to me by the local netball community has been a desire to have a fully enclosed and ‘sprung floor’ netball facility, and I am delighted that the Country Liberals Government can deliver extra funds to help make this a reality,” Conlan said.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Gary Higgins says the extra funding will give the sport more opportunity to grow and prosper.

“Netball has always been a popular sport in Alice Springs and with more funding to improve facilities the local clubs and schools will be able to benefit by attracting even more players,” he said.

Design and drawing works for the Alice Springs Town Council facility are continuing with widespread consultation with ASNA, the local netball clubs and the whole community.

Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan, who is the father of a junior netballer and was at Saturday’s meeting, said the announcement was great news.

“This brings the NT Government’s commitment to the stadium project to $4.25 million to enable a $5 million facility,” he said.

“It is fantastic for one of the biggest sports in Alice Springs to get a new stadium.

“The new facility indoors will create opportunities for netball to increase their sport.

“It is a facility that has been lacking in this town.

“One of the benefits is that our young players who go away to represent the town and Territory will be able to train on a surface that they will play on and so not be at such a disadvantage.”