Surplus in, Stadiums Settled ... Now for Sport in the Suburbs

Sport NSW, the peak body for sport in the state, has called on the NSW Government to go one step further than stadiums for professional sport, by committing to an infrastructure funding plan for sub-elite and grassroots sporting facilities across the state.

Sport NSW Chairperson Joseph La Posta said last Thursday’s announcement of a $3.3 billion budget surplus means the NSW Government can afford to complement the stadia investment with a significant injection of funds into community sport.

“Sport NSW members have been working with the NSW Government on the Future Needs of Sport Infrastructure Study since it was announced in 2014. The Government knows what the community sport priorities are in suburban and regional NSW and now we know they have the money to invest in them.

“There is a gaping hole when it comes to the investment required in grassroots and second tier sporting facilities which has been largely ignored and there is no better time than off the back of a larger surplus and the recent stadia announcement for the Government to articulate its plan for grassroots sport.

“This should be in addition to completing the stadia strategy announced in 2015 which includes the development of a world class indoor sporting facility,” said Mr La Posta.

Sport NSW believes that a higher level of investment into sport is justified as it will ultimately pay a dividend back in healthier citizens which will provide budget savings in other areas.

“Investment in grassroots and sub-elite sport provides the opportunity for mass participation. If the health and obesity levels of Australians are ever going to start trending back in the right direction then a genuine, large-scale intervention is needed,” Mr La Posta continued.

“Children who play sport are healthier in mind and body whilst also developing lifelong habits which will keep them active throughout their life. Academic performance is also known to improve amongst children who have a balance in their life between school and sport. Straight away you have long-term savings in health and education for any investment made today. That is the real story around justifying spending on sport.”

So the strong message from Sport NSW to the Government when it comes to sporting facilities is simply to finish the job.

“The new stadia will undoubtedly bring huge benefits to sport in NSW, but to ensure they will be filled with NSW athletes long into the future it’s time to finish the job with a significant injection of funds into community sporting infrastructure.

“Regional sporting hubs, new community infrastructure in the suburbs and modernised sporting facilities across NSW will drive growth in participation and require hundreds of millions of dollars in investment. There is no better time than now,” Mr La Posta concluded.