Sporting Facilities

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Attorney-General, representing the Treasurer, regarding Mount Barker's Summit Sport and Recreation Park and the state government's investment in sporting facilities in Lyndoch.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: It has been reported in recent days that Lyndoch Recreation Park will host both of the AFL Gather Round matches in 2025 after a $42 million transformation funded mainly by the state government and the local council bringing it up to AFL standard. Mount Barker's $23 million Summit Sport and Recreation Park was part of the first three Gather Round fixtures but has been overlooked for 2025 in favour of the still-being-constructed Lyndoch facility.

The Mount Barker facility is essentially not being used by the Hills Football League due to issues with fencing, the clubroom, parking and costs to users. Just last week, a local cricket association announced it will not play any matches at Summit Sport and Recreation Park this summer. My questions to the Attorney-General, representing the Treasurer, are: given just three AFL matches have been played at Mount Barker, what will the government do to ensure the significant taxpayer investment in this facility is ultimately justified, and can it promise that the new Lyndoch facility will be delivering value for taxpayer money?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for her question. I will certainly refer that to the relevant minister in another place and bring back a reply.