Local Sport and Recreation

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:44): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister update the house on the government's commitment to supporting local sport and recreation in the Adelaide Hills, and in particular the provision of funding to improve lighting at Bridgewater oval?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:44): I thank the member for his question—again, another hardworking member from this side of the house doing all he can to improve facilities in his local community. I know he is a very passionate football follower and very passionate sports fan as well.

Mr Speaker, the Minister for Environment asked me to say that the Adelaide Hills are certainly alive with very good local members, and we have a government that is doing wonderful things for their local communities. The member for Heysen has asked about the Bridgewater Oval. I'm glad to say that $50,000 has been committed from this government to the Bridgewater Callington Raiders Football Club to upgrade the lighting at the Bridgewater Oval. Upgrading the lights at Bridgewater Oval will enable better training during the week and greater access to the oval, which is great news for the community in the Hills, including president Simon Bryars and sponsorship director Rob Belsole.

This is what we are talking about when we say, 'Good local members doing good things for their local sporting communities and improving the facilities to encourage participation.' But that is not all. The member for Kavel is working closely and hard with this Mount Barker community and its surrounds, and the Minister for Education has secured $20,000 for the Lobethal Cricket Club. That money will assist with a new storage shed and a lighting upgrade at the Lobethal Oval. If not for a shoulder injury, I know the Minister for Education has a ripping leg break and he could even make a comeback. I'm sure club president, Dave Huxter, and club captain, Mitchell Weeks, will be thanking the member for Morialta for his advocacy on this project.

Over in Flagstaff Hill, the member for Davenport, who has delivered $500,000 to the Flagstaff Community Centre has done an outstanding job. This funding will go towards new changerooms for men, women and families, coaching facilities and the addition of a function area and meeting room for the Flagstaff Community Centre. It was great to be up there with him, handing over the cheque just a week or two ago, and watching the young kids running around and having a marvellous time.

I would also like to take this opportunity to mention the projects that the member for Waite has championed in his community. The member has fought extremely hard for his electorate, with four projects being delivered. The Unley Football Club are receiving $100,000 to upgrade Kingswood Oval and the Blackwood Bowling Club have $90,000 to install a new synthetic green, and we will be catching up with them on the weekend, with the member for Waite as well.

The Coromandel Valley Ramblers Cricket Club have $80,000 to upgrade facilities at the Hawthorndene Oval, and we are completing the funding needed for stage 2 of the Mitcham council's upgrade of Hewett Reserve. The member for Heysen and all our colleagues in the Adelaide Hills have been fighting hard for their communities and they are already delivering results. Not only is the government committed to providing sporting clubs with improved facilities but we are delivering for all areas of our community.