COMMUNITY RECREATION AND SPORT FACILITIES PROGRAM

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:44): Can the Minister for Recreation and Sport inform the house how the government is helping to provide sport and recreation facilities for grassroots clubs and community-based organisations in our state?

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (15:44): I thank the member for Taylor for her question. She has a keen interest in local clubs and is a very good representative of them. I am very pleased to be able to tell the house that grassroots sport organisations are so important in the fabric of South Australia, and the state government is committed to supporting local sport and recreation groups as they strive to help create healthier, stronger communities.

The Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program (CRSFP) is a crucial part of this government's strong commitment to supporting grassroots sport. It provides much-needed financial assistance to clubs and organisations throughout the state to improve their sporting infrastructure.

The $5 million boost provided for last year's program received a fantastic response, and I am happy to report that the 2011-12 round has been equally successful. The Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program has again proven to be hugely popular in both city and country regions, with 190 applications submitted. I am pleased to inform the house today that 77 projects were successful, up from 69 last year, and sharing in nearly $6.6 million in funding that will provide tens of thousands of South Australians of all ages with greater opportunities to be involved in physical activity.

Some of the exciting new and upgraded community sports facilities we will now see include change rooms in Mount Gambier and O'Sullivans Beach, bowling greens in Port Pirie and Clearview, floodlights in Meadows and Mawson Lakes, hockey pitches at Stockwell and Port Adelaide, tennis courts in Kapunda and Grange, swimming pools in Lock and Booleroo Centre, and clubrooms in Two Wells and Reynella. I was very pleased to be out in Two Wells just yesterday with the member for Taylor. This is a fantastic result, which will not only benefit local sports organisations but also see local employment provided with a significant boost, and all funding provided by the government needing to be matched by the applicant through either funding sources or in-kind contributions.

The positive impact that this program has on the South Australian economy is clear, with the South Australian government's investment of $6.58 million into the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program this year expected to result in around $19 million in total in sports facilities projects right across the state. This government remains strongly committed to supporting grassroots sports, with a review of the portfolio of grants administered by the Office of Recreation and Sport completed in December, ensuring that our investments in these programs provides maximum value to South Australian communities.

I am happy to advise that, following this review, the next round of the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program will increase to $7.195 million. I would urge all members to direct their local clubs to this grant program, with the next round opening for applications next month.