Coalition promise $3m to upgrade Tracy Village sporting precinct
The Country Liberal candidate for Solomon has promised major upgrades to the northern suburbs sporting precinct if the coalition wins the election. Find out what they are.
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If elected the Coalition will spend $3 million to upgrade a popular sports hub in Darwin’s northern suburbs, a commitment welcomed as “a massive boost for grassroots sports”.
Country Liberal candidate for Solomon Lisa Bayliss was at the Tracy Village sporting precinct on Friday to make the announcement, which includes building two full-size football fields with lighting to go towards establishing Hellenic Athletic Club’s home ground.
Other promised upgrades include removal of unsafe trees, spectator seating and shade, improved all-abilities access, surface upgrades, and lights and changerooms for cricket and AFL.
In total seven clubs are affiliated with Tracy Village – cricket, football, AFL, baseball, softball, basketball and netball – with more than a thousand playing members combined.
Hellenic AC vice president Matt Hajdic said the club was “very excited” to see the redevelopment.
“We’re the oldest team in Darwin, and still looking for a facility to call home,” he said.
“(Tracy Village) has been a great place for us over the last six years we’ve been here, and it’s good to see some movement forward.
“This additional support from Lisa Bayliss and the Country Liberal team will be a massive boost for grassroots sports and all the clubs using Tracy Village sporting ground.”
The upgrades will require the relocation of existing baseball and softball facilities to a different area of the precinct, to make way for the football fields.
The funding pledge comes on top of $3m committed in last year’s Territory budget for Tracy Village, which was earmarked for building women’s changerooms, lighting, and playing field upgrades at the site.
Ms Bayliss said upgrading sporting facilities in Darwin’s north was a “key part of my plan to get the Territory back on track”.
“We know that as the northern suburbs grow, we need the infrastructure to match it, ensuring young families and their children have the opportunity to participate in any of the seven sports played at Tracy Village,” she said.
NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the sports precinct was “a pillar of the local community, and this redevelopment will benefit not only players, but their families, friends, and entire communities within the Territory”.
Last month the coalition promised $5m for redevelopment of Darwin Gardens Oval 2 if elected, including new lighting and change rooms.
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