Griffith’s new $24.8 million Regional Sports Precinct is set to go ahead with local MP Sussan Ley today announcing the Federal Government will contribute $4.5 million dollars through the Building Better Regions Fund.
According to Ms Ley the Griffith Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre and Westend Oval redevelopment will lead to new state-of-the-art sporting facilities for basketball, cricket, football, netball, hockey, badminton and athletics, creating a truly Regional Sports Hub.
“This really is a win for the entire community, with so many user groups and schools also set to benefit from the upgrades. This is a proud moment for the city and I can’t wait to see the end result.”
Griffith Mayor John Dal Broi said his council had been exploring several avenues to secure the final funding component for the project. “I am absolutely elated – it completes the funding picture for the precinct, so now it’s full steam ahead.”
“The commitment we have now from both the federal and NSW governments recognises Griffith as a developing regional hub and is a major coup, not only for the residents of Griffith but across the region.”
Chair of the Griffith City Sports Council Lou Testoni said the funding will help cement Griffith
as a regional sporting centre into the future.
“Our vision has become a reality, providing a relatively remote area in NSW with a major sporting identity, helping us develop a wide variety of sport programs and competitions benefitting the entire western region.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Liberal/Nationals Government is committed to ensuring Australia’s regions remain strong, resilient and prosperous in the long term.
“We are supporting our regions through investing in important local infrastructure, as well as great community-building and planning initiatives under the Building Better Regions Fund and other Government priorities such as the Regional Growth Fund and our decentralisation agenda.”
Fast Facts
This development is the major component in establishing a Regional Sports Hub facility through the expansion and revitalisation of the Westend Oval and Griffith Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre.
The Commonwealth is allocating $4.5m towards the Griffith Regional Sports Precinct (Stage 1).
The $24.8m project also comprises $10m (Griffith City Council); $10m (NSW Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund – announced in October 2018); $300k in kind assistance.
Separate funding for upgrades to the nearby Jubilee Oval (Stage 2) will complete the majority of the Griffith Regional Sports Precinct Plan.
Local contractors and suppliers will be utilised on the project, creating an estimated 32 extra jobs during construction & five extra full time equivalent staff on completion.
Construction is expected to start by late 2019 or early 2020 and take 12 to 18 months to complete.
The precinct funding is among $7m for Farrer from the third round of the Building Better Regions Fund, helping create $30m in new infrastructure and community projects being announced this week.
Snapshot of the $23.6m in Commonwealth funding recently provided for local projects/events…
$4,400,000 Burley Griffin Way, Yoogali
$3,541,000 Murray-Darling Basin Economic Diversification Programme
$1,360,000 Regional Study Hub
$800,000 Thorne Road & Kidman Way intersection
$350,000 Griffith CBD CCTV
$20,000 MYSKATE Festival
$18,500 The Festival of Lights
$17,500 Griffith Affordable Housing Strategy
$15,606 Griffith & District Football Association
