Mypolonga Combined Sports Club

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister update the chamber on the successful Thriving Regions—Enabling Infrastructure application for the Mypolonga sports club?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for her question. I was delighted, on Tuesday 28 May—a bit over a week ago—to have the pleasure of meeting with Courtney Blacker, Joel Eckermann and Jason Stewart at the Mypolonga Combined Sports Club, along with Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley, to announce the successful state government Thriving Regions—Enabling Infrastructure funding towards the Mypolonga Combined Sports Club major complex facility.

This upgrade is important for the area, and we were announcing funding of almost $520,000. The funding is a significant contribution to the project's overall cost of $1.24 million, with the office of recreation and sport also providing a grant recently. The sports complex is a vital recreational and social hub that plays a significant role in the wellbeing and liveability of the community. It is currently host to more than six local sporting clubs and community groups and holds community events, emergency response, agriculture industry meetings and more.

The new upgrades will ensure the complex serves the needs of Mypolonga well into the future. The overall project will involve the addition of change rooms, unisex wet areas, upgraded lights for broader event availability and emergencies, an all-ages playground, court area extension for netball and tennis and a free recreation area.

The sports grounds are a vital community centre and provide an integrated approach for local clubs to grow liveability and regional wellbeing. They offer safe activities, events and recreation to thousands, strengthening the local communities. The Mypolonga sports club provides Mypolonga people with identity. It's where the community connect, celebrate, play, do business, develop and respond to emergencies.

The current facilities are dilapidated, small and vulnerable to weather and this project fixes the current problems at the club and provides benefits to the community through physical and mental wellbeing. It provides high-standard facilities for public recreation and first-time access for females, people with disability, culturally diverse people and cohorts of disadvantage.

Upgrades allow the club to fundraise through improved canteen facilities and events and relieve pressure on volunteers who have provided 10 years' worth of key infrastructure maintenance. They will also provide flood-proof, accessible or no-cost space for families, celebrations, community workshops and more.

The upgrades are set to start in the coming months as the group of local Mypolonga volunteers leading this project prepare for the town's biggest community infrastructure investment on record. Recent floods have of course had a devastating impact on many local Mypolonga families, businesses and industry. They are now well on the road to recovery and this positive opportunity for their community's much-loved recreation hub has given them all something to celebrate.

I will point out that Mypolonga is in the electorate of Hammond. Given the question from the opposition yesterday about announcements and the implication that they are all in Labor seats or Independent seats, it really does beg the question: is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting that Hammond is or soon will be a Labor seat or an Independent seat? What does she know about the member for Hammond?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Is the member for Hammond planning to become an Independent?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Or is it, indeed, that those opposite think that the member for Hammond is doing such a poor job that he is likely to lose his seat to an Independent at the next election? Either way, it's an interesting question, which I'm sure we can all ponder. But I am very pleased that we have made this significant announcement for the Mypolonga sports club.