Parliamentary Speeches
Ballina Hockey Club ( 22/04/2010)
Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina) [6.24 p.m.]: I bring to the attention of the House an exciting sporting project that is expected to attract thousands of visitors each year to Ballina. The Ballina Hockey Club is leading the way in the development of the Ballina hockey complex, which will include a new synthetic turf playing field as well as a clubhouse, spectator grandstands, canteen, and change and toilet facilities. This development will see a world-class all-weather playing field that will cater for hockey and a variety of other sports, including soccer, touch and oztag. This project is the result of an extraordinary commitment by the club to generate and maintain interest and enthusiasm in the game on the far north coast of New South Wales.
The club estimates that a new synthetic turf playing field will attract more than 8,500 additional visitors to Ballina each year. Many of these people would be coming in the winter months, which is the traditional slow period for accommodation providers, retail outlets, cafes, dining establishments and hotels. The community and Ballina Shire Council support this project. The strategic plan adopted by Hockey NSW identifies this new synthetic playing field as paramount if the far north coast is to support current player numbers. Far North Coast Hockey also recognises the need and supports the project.
The Ballina Hockey Club has costed this project at $1.1 million, and commendably has raised the majority of funds. The club has attracted an extremely generous donation of $250,000 from a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous. Ballina Shire Council has agreed to contribute $400,000. The club has raised $30,000 in cash, and has attracted sponsorship and in-kind donations of $235,000. This is an exceptional effort for a small community-sporting club, and I congratulate the members who have worked so hard to realise this vision. The club has also applied for several State and Federal government grants in recent years but has been unsuccessful to date. Recently the club again applied to NSW Sport and Recreation for a grant of $200,000 and if this is approved—and I certainly hope that it will be—the project could be completed by the end of this year.
This sporting facility will be a significant asset to not only the electorate of Ballina but to the entire northern rivers region. I ask Premier Kristina Keneally and the Minister for Sport, Kevin Greene, to consider allocating the money so the project can get underway. I draw their attention to the Sport and Recreation Participation Program offered through NSW Sport and Recreation. The objectives of the program are to increase regular and on-going participation activities in sport; to facilitate long-term change that will benefit people facing barriers to participation in sport, recreation and structured physical activity; to develop the skills of volunteers and the capacity of community organisations to provide participation opportunities; to build the capacity of a community organisation to enhance its provision of sport and recreation services; and to provide accreditation or training to enable sport, recreation and physical activity programs to be conducted in locations across New South Wales and for specific communities. The Ballina Hockey Club's project fits those objectives and the guidelines for funding set out by NSW Sport and Recreation.
A new synthetic field at Ballina would increase participation in hockey and other sports and would encourage people to get involved in sport and physical activities. The club is already demonstrating how it can provide participation opportunities, and is obviously working hard to provide and enhance sport and recreation services. The new facility will also provide long-term benefits to the entire community via increased visitor numbers. The club has undertaken this project on behalf of the community and, given the degree of support to date, it is one that has obviously been well received and regarded as worthwhile.
The New South Wales Labor Government should also be mindful of the very generous donation of $250,000 by a person who wishes to remain anonymous. This is a substantial amount of money but it will be withdrawn on 30 June 2011 if the project is not advanced. What a shame it would be to lose a $1.1m facility such as this because the State Government could not find $200,000 to build the complex.
Ballina Shire Council sees merit in the project because it will benefit the community for many years to come. That is why it has contributed $400,000. For the sake of the athletes, children and hockey fans on the far North Coast, I ask the department of Sport and Recreation to support the $200,000 application. [Time expired.]
