Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Every weekend, from West Ryde to Hunters Hill and Gladesville to Lane Cove, you'll find thousands of locals pulling on their team colours, coaching from the sidelines and cheering from the stands. Whether it's netball, football, cricket, rugby, frolf or badminton, sport brings our community together. It builds friendships, keeps people active and gives kids the confidence and connection they carry for life. In Bennelong, it's our local clubs and volunteers who make it all happen. That's why I'm proud to have secured major funding commitments to improve two key sporting facilities in our community: Christie Park and Boronia Park. That's why I'm also standing with our local netballers, calling for a basic fix from the New South Wales government to fund a project that's currently falling short.

Let me start with Christie Park. When I was the mayor of Ryde I backed the Christie Park master plan because I knew then that our community needed better football facilities. Since then we've seen not one but two synthetic fields at the park, and it has grown into a key sporting hub. But there's more to be done. I identified, fought for and will deliver $1.9 million to the City of Ryde Council so that they can construct stage 2(a) of the Christie Park masterplan—that is, five new small-sided synthetic fields purpose-built for futsal and multisport use, particularly for training. It will mean more game time for locals, more training space and more opportunities for sports to thrive in rain, hail or shine. In a fast-growing area like Macquarie Park, we need infrastructure that keeps pace. These all-weather fields will support juniors taking their first kick, volunteers running the programs and local clubs building the next generation of sporting talent, because when we invest in facilities like this we're not just building fields; we're building communities.

Then we get to Boronia Park in Hunters Hill. It's one of Hunters Hill's most loved and used open spaces, and it's been home to generations of local clubs and community groups. The recent opening of the community sports centre was the result of years of work by local volunteers, players and leaders—people who rolled up their sleeves, rallied support, co-funded the construction of this facility and brought it to life. It has already transformed the experience of players and families, and now, thanks to the Albanese Labor government, we'll be able to build on that success. My $800,000 commitment to the council will upgrade the community centre's electrics, deliver a lighting package that will install new energy efficient LED lighting on ovals, add solar panels to the facility and deliver a big beautiful battery onsite to soak up all that excess power. It will help the facility to be more sustainable, it will reduce emissions and it will cut running costs to the club. They spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on electricity to light those fields. It will cut those running costs and futureproof the precinct for generations to come.

But just down the road there's one project that needs a bit of love, and that's the outdoor netball courts at the West Ryde Multi-Sports Facility, which is currently under construction—thankfully, funded by the New South Wales government. It's set to become the home for netball in our area, with over $30 million in public investment. It's a project that has been years in the making, driven by the passion and persistence of our growing and thriving local netball community. But, as I said, the funding is a little bit short. Eastwood Ryde Netball Association, ERNA, have been informed that only 25 of the 29 outdoor courts are currently funded to be sealed, leaving four as grass-only courts. That might sound minor, but it means the difference between them being able to host state championships at the site or not. That's why this facility was built in the first place, and it's something they have been fighting for, for over a decade. Unless all 29 courts are sealed this facility won't meet our local needs or competition standards. That's why, working hand in glove with my good friend and counsellor Lyndal Howison and, of course ERNA, I've launched a petition calling on the New South Wales government to fund these final four courts and finish the job properly.

Time is of the essence here. This facility is under construction right now—four amazing indoor courts and 29 outdoor courts but only enough funding to seal 25 of those courts. We need those extra four courts to be sealed and we've launched that petition. So I would encourage all netball parents and all those who play to sign this petition and share it. I know ERNA have shared it and are doing a fantastic job. This needs to be funded properly. When we invest in sports, we invest in communities.

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