New $6 million multi-purpose sports facility at Pontville to ‘revitalise’ sport in Brighton
A new $6 million multi-purpose sports facility at Pontville has been promised to revitalise sport and recreation in the Brighton area following its unveiling. NEW FACILITY >>
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Magpie Harrison Gunther’s ambition to be Glenorchy’s next Jaye Bowden
- Football Tasmania ensures all local talent can afford to represent the state at national championships
A NEW $6 million multi-purpose sports facility was unveiled at Pontville yesterday and Mayor Tony Foster said it promised to revitalise sport and recreation in the Brighton Municipality.
Funded by a Federal Government grant, with support from the Brighton Council, the Pontville pavilion sits proudly between the precinct’s two ovals.
“It is gratifying to see council’s initial vision become a reality,” Mr Foster said.
“This development would not have been possible without a joint-effort and without the support of the Federal Government that provided the major funding.”
He said it would become a “high-standard regional hub” for sporting and recreational activity.
I meets the AFL-preferred facility guidelines for a regional facility and Cricket Tasmania’s guidelines for a premier facility.
Tasmanian Liberal Senator Claire Chandler was on hand for the official honours, as was former Senator Steve Martin, who secured the Federal funding.
“Already a major venue for cricket and football and other sports, this pavilion will take this sporting complex to the next level and give our municipality a facility that is the envy of many,” Mr Foster said.
“It has created a revitalised multi-purpose centre to cater for the needs of local sports clubs, particularly providing modern, upgraded facilities for the Brighton Football and Cricket Clubs and the wider community.
“Importantly, it provides excellent facilities for the increasing numbers of girls and women, who are participating in sporting activities.
“The new facilities will enable the clubs to attract and retain girls and women players.
“This will strengthen the clubs by increasing the diversity of their player bases and provide new opportunities for women and girls in the region to play football and cricket.
“Brighton is a fast-growing community, and it is essential we provide facilities like this so our people can participate and enjoy healthy sport and recreation.”
Its first official duty will be on Saturday when Brighton plays SFL rival Lindisfarne.
$35m sporting precinct planned for Clarence Plains
With Clarence Plains predicted to become a satellite city in the next decade, a new sporting precinct is being planned to meet significant community needs.
Community consultation is open until July 2 for the draft masterplan of the Bayview Secondary College community sporting precinct, which will be located on the college campus in Rokeby and will cost in excess of $35 million.
The new facilities will feature an indoor sports centre, outdoor playing surfaces, site works, carparking and a perimeter circuit trail, with the facilities intended for not only the college but the wider Clarence Plains and South Arm Peninsula communities.
“Clarence Plains is predicted to become a satellite city with a population of more than 20,000 in another 10 years time, and we are experiencing a high demand for additional sporting facilities – particularly indoor sporting facilities – as many of the current buildings are aging and no longer fit for purpose,” Clarence City Council mayor Doug Chipman said.
“This development will not only provide benefits for the school, the students, local sports clubs and the community, but it will also provide a social and sporting hub for the region.”
Basketball participation in Tasmania has experienced a 34 per cent increase over the last four years, highlighting the need for new facilities like these to be developed, Basketball Tasmania chief executive officer Chris McCoy said.
“City of Clarence represents an excellent catchment area for basketball, and we are currently unable to fulfill the demand due to our lack of quality facilities,” he said.
“We expect the (participation) rate to rise further with the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers joining the National Basketball League at the end of this year.
“The Bayview development will be a fantastic outcome for the region and our sport will completely fill its basketball allocation as soon as the facility is open.”
Clarence City Council have worked in collaboration with Bayview Secondary College, the Department of Education and consultants Leisure Planners to prepare the draft master plan.
Formal interviews were also conducted with state sporting associations, peak bodies, council staff and local sporting clubs currently using the site and the college.
After almost five years of hard work, passion and vision, Bayview Secondary College staff are thrilled that the draft master plan has been released.
“The proposed sporting precinct will be a game changer not only for our school, but for sport, recreation and physical activity opportunities for the whole of the Eastern shore,” principal Gill Berriman said.
“Our students will be able to reap the benefits of better educational, social and health outcomes from having access to modern sporting facilities.
“I urge all students, parents, and the local community to actively participate in the consultation on the draft master plan, for this is a much-needed development in Clarence.”
Funding for the facilities includes an $8 million state government commitment made in the 2021 state election campaign, and this investment is dependent on matched funding from Clarence City Council and the federal government, a council spokesman said.
To provide feedback visit www.yoursay.ccc.tas.gov.au
Emails, letters reveal details on Van Dairy’s big tax fight
Lawyers for the State’s Revenue Office set their case on Friday, reading to a Hobart court Van Dairy company letters and emails. What the letters said about the company’s business plans >
How close is the Tasmanian tiger’s return
The race to bring the Tasmanian tiger back to life is heating up after a scientific breakthrough has completed 99.9 per cent of the puzzle. Here’s why.