Sports Funding

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (14:09): My question is to the Minister for—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned for a second time. The member for Newland might commence his question again.

Dr HARVEY: My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is building what matters for sports clubs across South Australia and keeping communities active?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:09): I thank the member for Newland for his question. He is a hardworking member in his area and he is getting the job done. He's all about building what matters for South Australians.

South Australia is seeing the biggest ever investment in grassroots sports and it is being delivered by this government. In June this year, we announced that 115 sporting clubs and organisations across the state will receive significant upgrades to their facilities thanks to a $24 million grant program from the Marshall Liberal government. We recently closed our most recent round of grants, with just over $20 million on the table, and we will have more to say about that in the coming weeks and months.

These grants assist sport and recreation organisations to build what matters by developing core infrastructure and community hubs that are driving up sport participation rates and keeping South Australians active—and we know how important that is. That's why I was delighted to join the member for Newland to open the completed resurfacing of the long jump area for the Tea Tree Gully athletics club, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Marshall Liberal government. That goes with the investment, of course, in the football and cricket club there, and that precinct is going ahead in leaps and bounds. A big thank you to the member for Newland for that.

By giving these athletes the facilities they need to train, we are giving them the best chance to fulfil their sporting potential. On this side of the house, we are ensuring we create pathways for athletes to reach great heights while we are investing $49 million in our new SASI headquarters, which will be a place where we can identify, develop and support high-performance athletes and programs.

It's not just the member for Newland's electorate that we are supporting. We are also investing in the Adelaide Hills. A fine example would be Heathfield Oval in your electorate, Mr Speaker. Again, I was delighted to be there with your good self turning the sod the other day—a $490,000 grant from the Marshall government helping upgrade change rooms for better access to the venue at Heathfield Oval, which will allow a playing experience for the ages, which is great news to the thousand-plus users each week.

Over to Athelstone, the member for Morialta's electorate has delivered a $400,000 Foxfield Precinct recently. He joined me to open these newly completed and constructed modular unisex change rooms and umpire rooms and improving disability access as well. This project will benefit football, cricket, soccer, and more than 250 active members who use that site, as well as provide access to public toilets for people who walk along there. But the list goes on.

The member for Kavel, who I hear is a former cricketer of note, has delivered $45,000 to the Hahndorf Cricket Club for new cricket nets and a synthetic pitch—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Elizabeth!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and weren't they happy about that? I was there back in June with the member for Kavel when we got that project underway.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hurtle Vale! The member for Hurtle Vale is called to order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Another true warrior is the member for Adelaide.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: They don't like these projects we're rolling out—hundreds and hundreds of projects building what matters for the people of South Australia. The member of Adelaide, isn't she delivering for her community, with a $216,000 upgrade to the North Adelaide Golf Club, improving the irrigation system there? We know through COVID more people are out playing golf, getting active, and that is great for all of South Australia.

These grants, these sport and recreation grants—and they are all outlined on the website, hundreds right across the state—are building what matters for the people of South Australia, driving up participation rates and keeping people active. We know how important that is.

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Reynell!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: We are so excited to be delivering these projects for the people of South Australia. Can I finish by saying a great project in the member for Unley's electorate: the Sturt Bowling Club. We turned the lights on the other day and he rolled the bowl down, did it like a professional. No bias here—we are delivering a crackerjack program and we are building what matters for the people of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Elizabeth is called to order. The leader is seeking the call. Before I call the leader, I warn the member for Hurtle Vale and I call to order the member for Wright and the member for Reynell.