The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.
Funding for community sporting facilities
The South Australian State Aquatic Centre, the Australian Sports Museum in Victoria and Toyota Park in New South Wales will all benefit from a 2005–06 Budget initiative totalling $39.6 million to improve community sporting facilities.
The funding includes $15 million for the South Australian State Aquatic Centre, $15 million for the Australian Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and $9.6 million to the Cronulla Leagues Club for an upgrade of Toyota Park.
“The Australian Government will provide $15 million to help build the South Australian State Aquatic Centre—an aquatic centre that will meet the standards of swimming’s international governing body, the Federation Internationale de Natation,” the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp said today.
The centre will include a 10-lane, 50-metre competition pool and a diving and water polo pool as well as spectator seating, training, medical and media facilities.
“The new centre will enable Adelaide again to host national and international swimming championships and provide a world-class training environment for local swimmers and divers,” Senator Kemp said.
The Government will work with the City of Marion on the project development. The South Australian Government has also undertaken to provide $15 million to the project.
The Australian Government will provide a one-off grant of $15 million to fund the capital fit-out costs of the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG.
“The Museum will celebrate the place of sport in Australian life and will promote national identity and pride. The funding will provide for a collection of sports memorabilia from across all Australian sports in a single location,” Senator Kemp said.
The Australian Sports Museum will incorporate the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, the Australian Gallery of Sport and the Olympic Museum.
As a national sporting icon, the MCG has become a major national and international tourist attraction—a status that will only increase with the addition of the Australian Sports Museum.
The Government will also provide $9.6 million to the Cronulla Leagues Club for an upgrade of Toyota Park—the home ground of the National Rugby League team the Cronulla Sharks.
“The upgrade will be valuable, not only for rugby league, but for the community as a whole as it will enhance spectator safety and security. This investment in the future of community activities in the Cronulla area will ensure that it continues to produce great athletes from a number of different sports,” Senator Kemp said.
Supporting Information
Why is this important?
- South Australian State Aquatic Centre
South Australia has not had a FINA compliant aquatic facility since the early 1990s, making Adelaide the only State capital without such a facility. The proposed centre will enable Adelaide again to host national and international swimming championships and provide a world-class training environment for local swimmers and divers. - Australian Sports Museum in Victoria.
The Museum will celebrate the place of sport in Australian life and promote national identity and pride. The funding will provide a collection of sports memorabilia across all Australian sports in a single location. - Toyota Park in New South Wales.
The upgrade will enhance spectator safety and security and address statutory and community requirements.
Who will benefit?
- the Australian public
What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?
- $15 million in 2005–06 – South Australian State Aquatic Centre
- $15 million in 2005–06 – Australian Sports Museum
- $9.6 million in 2005–06 – Toyota Park
What have we done in the past?
- Consistent with the 2004 Building Australian Communities Through Sport election policy, the Australian Government committed almost $30 million for community sporting and recreational facilities across Australia. As part of the Government’s 2004 election commitments, $7.87 million was also provided to improve sporting facilities in Tasmania.
When will the initiative conclude?
- Australian Government funding for these initiatives will be provided in 2005-06. Proponents will be required to report against milestones throughout the course of the project.
8 May 2006
Media contact: Michael Christo, Minister’s Office 03 9650 7274 or 0409 040276