Michael Daley and Labor today released a $95 million ‘Community Sports First’ package to invest into local teams, local facilities, communities and programs.
Mr Daley said while the Berejiklian Government’s top priority was to spend $2.2 billion on stadiums, Labor’s ‘Community Sports First’ package would fund initiatives that benefit local communities.
This includes $40 million to install and improve lighting at sporting fields across Sydney. This will open up ovals, fields and courts that currently lie empty at night and during winter - while others often just around the corner are at full capacity.
An audit by Football NSW has already identified a large number of fields where capacity could be increased with improved lighting.
Labor’s package also includes $20 million to upgrade access to facilities for those with a disability and the elderly. This is much needed funding for many places in regional NSW, where often a simple ramp or pool hoist can make a life changing difference.
Michael Daley and Labor will commit $10 million for a Basketball Centre of Excellence in Western Sydney. While basketball is one of NSW’s fastest growing sports with 55,000 registered players, all basketball courts in the Sydney Metropolitan basin are at capacity.
Australian players are now regulars in national and overseas basketball Leagues, such as the NBA, and we want more NSW youngsters to follow in their footsteps.
This follows Labor’s commitment to cover all six courts for Merimbula Basketball.
A Daley Labor government will allocate $15 million to improve netball facilities in Sydney and Country NSW. This includes $5 million to Southern Districts Netball to build an indoor netball facility, $5 million to deliver a multi court facility in Ryde and $5 million to create the only regional 32-courts competition field in Maitland.
Michael Daley and Labor will also provide $1million to Surf Life Saving NSW for a groundbreaking Adult Swim Safe program. This comes in response to the tragic drowning of nearly 30 people in NSW since July 2018.
This unique program will take surf lifesavers to communities that are over-represented in drowning statistics. Surf safety and survival skills will be taught in local aquatic facilities to adults who are not experienced in the surf or with swimming.
“While the Berejiklian Government gives major stadiums a golden hand out, Labor will give local sports a helpful hand up,” Michael Daley said.
“At the moment we have kids and sporting teams who can’t find fields to train on because of shocking overcrowding. Parents are often stuck in traffic taking their kids across the city because their local oval is full.
“You have Netball and Basketball teams playing on courts that are outdated - some have been crumbling for years.
“And our unsung heroes - NSW surf life savers - who want to do even more to make our beaches safer, aren’t getting that little bit of extra help to do so.
“Our 77,000 Surf Life Savers do a magnificent job. What this program does is bring them into communities that need the extra help,” Mr Daley said.
“We are about Footballers, Netballers, Basketballers and more. This government is obsessed by wrecking balls,” NSW Shadow Minister for Sport Lynda Voltz said.
As part of the Community Sport First package Michael Daley and Labor have also recommitted to:
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$2 million to a Neuromuscular Training Program aimed at reducing the incidences of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries in 12-25 year olds.
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$1 million to establish a ‘Gymnastics First’ Fund to provide assistance to Gymnastics Clubs across NSW.
