I raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Sport, Recreation and
Youth Affairs. The matter concerns the latest round of country football and
netball programs. We are all fairly familiar with this program, which assists
local communities in coming together, being active and playing sport. The
program provides up to $60 000 for football, netball and umpire facilities, for
shared community and social facilities and for multi-use facilities. Lighting is
also part of the program.
I have become aware that the Warrnambool City Council has
applied on behalf of the Old Collegians Football Netball Club for funding for a
project to develop a netball change room amenities building and to provide new
netball court lighting at Davidson Oval.
Something similar to this has happened in terms of the Old
Collegians football club, so there are amenities there that are up to date and
well used by the football team. I believe it is only fitting that the same sort
of regard is shown in terms of the women who are in the netball teams at
Warrnambool and who play for the Old Collegians. It is a matter of modernising
the area and making sure we have a standard that is appropriate for women’s
sport in country Victoria, and in particular regional cities such as
Warrnambool.
This project will ensure that the overall quality of facilities
provided to female sportspeople is equivalent to those provided to male sporting
participants at Davidson Oval. I ask that the minister support this application
for funding from the Warrnambool City Council for this very worthwhile project.