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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-12-02 Daily Xml
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State Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Plan

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister update the house on how the state sports infrastructure plan will build what matters and help position South Australia as a national and world leader in recreation and sport?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:34): I thank the member for his question, and certainly we have a member there who would know how to produce sporting champions. As you would be well aware in this house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —we have invested $16.7 billion—

The SPEAKER: Will the minister resume his seat for a moment. Minister, resume your seat.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left, the member for Colton has asked a question; he is entitled to the answer. The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has the call and will be heard in silence.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you, sir. I thank you for your indulgence. As I was pointing out, the member for Colton did ask a very good question. As a government, we are investing heavily in infrastructure in South Australia: $16.7 billion is the count, a figure those opposite would never have heard of before. We are investing in South Australia and we are building what matters—roads, hospitals, schools and water infrastructure—and also we are investing in our sporting infrastructure, which we know is very important to the social fabric of what we are doing. In the most recent budget announced, $214 million to go into—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is on two warnings.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —in South Australia. This is all hinged around our state sports infrastructure plan, a plan that those opposite would know nothing about. They never had a plan and just acted willy-nilly when they were in government. In doing so, we are creating a very sound strategy and a game changer for South Australia. This plan will support sport, recreation and racing from the grassroots right through to the AFL.

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Reynell!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: We are making sure that we are delivering what matters for the people of South Australia.

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: We want to develop facilities that will fill the current gaps that were left by those opposite, and there were many. We want to be accessible and encourage all South Australians to live an active and healthy lifestyle, as outlined in our whole-of-government Game On strategy. The projects we have announced under this plan are expected to create hundreds of jobs along the way in construction, and that will boost the economy significantly. The $44 million investment in Memorial Drive, the tennis centre there, is the perfect example. Our investment in that has already served up opportunities for South Australians. The inaugural Adelaide International—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —was a stand-out event for South Australia. It's investing in things like this that have generated a 10-year investment. With that event having been here for 10 years, it truly is outstanding. In a post-COVID world, we know that event venues like Memorial Drive, the open air venue, will be a really big hit and a really big success. Of course, we have opportunities to bring the arts and other events into that, including e-sports as well. This is very exciting for the future.

On top of that, Tennis Australia has committed to establishing a world-leading innovation sporting hub at Memorial Drive, relocating Tennis Australia's innovation team to Adelaide, a stone's throw from Lot Fourteen. You can see why they want to be here. We have also announced $45 million into upgrading Hindmarsh Stadium, a stadium that was neglected by those opposite for so long. We are upgrading it, and that puts us in the best possible position—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned for a second time.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —to secure fixtures for 2023 and the Women's World Cup. But the member for Reynell sounds like she doesn't care about that. We are investing to get ourselves the best chance to get games and teams here for the Women's World Cup.

Another legacy event for soccer is of course the $5 million additional funding we have put towards the State Centre of Football out at Gepps Cross, making it a $24 million investment into soccer here in South Australia. Of course, there is $12 million going into Netball SA, again a very highly patronised venue at Mile End, with that $12 million going into upgrading that facility, again because it was left to run down by those opposite. There is $5 million going into Thebarton, which will be fundamentally the home of women's football. The upgrade there is an $18 million upgrade. Working with the council and the federal government, we are delivering for the people of South Australia.

We are excited by this. We know one of the key things identified in our plan was having safe, high-quality and well-designed facilities that will attract and retain grassroots participants and members and bring people to South Australia. I am running out of time, so I don't have time to talk about the $35 million we are putting into grassroots through our regional districts program and our grassroots program, delivering for the people of South Australia. As much as the member for Reynell doesn't like it, we are proud to be building what matters in sport.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister's time has expired. Before I call the member for Elizabeth, the member for Reynell will leave for 20 minutes under 137A.

The honourable member for Reynell having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: I call to order the Minister for Education. I warn the member for Hurtle Vale. I warn for a second time the member for Elizabeth. I call to order and warn the member for Ramsay, and I warn the member for Wright.

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