Community Recreation and Sports Facilities Program

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (14:53): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister inform the house about how the government is supporting grassroots sport and recreation clubs to improve local facilities?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:54): I start by thanking the member for her question and also for her steadfast advocacy for the many sport and recreation clubs in her community. As the house knows and as each member in this house knows clubs are often at the heart of communities across our state helping people to improve physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing and giving many a sense of belonging.

Last week I was really proud to announce the successful recipients of the most recent Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program with funds heading to 44 sporting infrastructure projects across South Australia. Through this round of funding, our state government has invested more than $5.5 million in projects for successful applicants who collectively have secured nearly $15.5 million in co-funding, a total project value of $20,976,905 supporting 86 full-time jobs during construction.

The member for Newland will, I am sure, be very pleased to know that successful clubs in her electorate include the Tea Tree Gully BMX Club, which will receive $24,000 to install an eight-rider electronic barrel start gate, the Hope Valley Tennis and Netball Club receiving funds to assist in resurfacing multiuse courts, and of use to many in her electorate is Burragah Reserve, which was successful in the local council's application to install lights across pitches allowing for use of this space at greater times of the day.

Congratulations to all recipients who, through their extraordinary volunteers, worked so hard on their funding applications and who in many cases relentlessly fundraised to support these projects which will enable significant improvements at their clubs. I recently had the incredible privilege of visiting the Copper Coast in the beautiful electorate the member for Narrunga proudly represents to let the Wallaroo Golf Club know that its application had been recommended for facility funding in this round.

When I shared that news with the generous Wallaroo Golf Club members there was not a dry eye in sight, myself included. I understand that, alongside applying for state government and council funding, these volunteers had cooked literally thousands and thousands of Cornish pasties and sausage rolls to help fundraise.

This funding means a great deal to those deserving volunteers who worked so diligently on their applications who fundraise within their communities and who secure the support of local government and other partners. There are volunteers like this across South Australia—the people who make it possible for kids to play footy, tennis and lacrosse and for the state's senior citizens to remain active through their local bowls club or through other activities.

As I said, sporting clubs are often at the heart of communities across South Australia. Regional towns absolutely know the value that sporting clubs have at the heart of their communities. In this grant round it was excellent to see that of the total successful applications nearly half of these were submitted from clubs and associations in our regional communities.

While in Wallaroo and Kadina I was able to catch some of the action at the Copper Coast SA Masters Games, and it is really fitting that South Australians who want to get active and be social have really positive opportunities to do so through events like the Masters. Again, I am really proud that this funding will enhance the efforts of clubs across the state as they go about supporting and including people in their communities through sport and recreation.