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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-16 Daily Xml
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SANTOS STADIUM

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:44): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister inform the house about what the government is doing to assist athletics in South Australia?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:44): I thank the member for Mawson, and I acknowledge his keen interest in athletics. I am pleased to advise the house that athletics in South Australia has received a very important funding injection. Funds to the amount of $1.7 million have been allocated for the total revamp of the synthetic running track at Santos Stadium, incorporating the complete replacement of the track pavement and surface. This new track will provide the year-round training facility needed to continue South Australia's proud history of producing great athletes.

Santos Stadium is home to the only synthetic running track in South Australia, making it a vital piece of sporting infrastructure. Last year, about 120,000 people passed through the gates for training, competition and spectator purposes. This included some 4,500 Little Athletics participants and 10,000 interclub and state championship competitors. However, just as importantly, the stadium is also utilised by around 55,000 students competing in local school carnivals every year.

The provision of this funding will ensure that these schoolchildren continue to have access to the quality athletic facilities found at Santos Stadium. The government strongly encourages participation in physical activity and this funding will help ensure that athletes of all levels have a state-of-the-art track on which to carry out their training and competitions.

This track upgrade is a fantastic result for South Australia. The government will continue to work with all key stakeholders to make Santos Stadium a world class athletics environment that all South Australians can enjoy. I am sure that the allocated funding to totally revamp the track will be welcomed by athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.

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