Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australian Rules Football is very popular in my electorate, particularly at junior level. I recently met with representatives at the Whitford Junior Football Club, including President Phil O'Donnell and Ian Ferguson, to discuss the urgent need to upgrade facilities at Macdonald Reserve in Padbury to improve the lighting at the oval and extend the change rooms and storage facilities. The requirements have been driven by the growing popularity of women's AFL, with a dramatic increase in registrations of female football players over the past three years. There has also been a rise in general registrations for male players.

A comprehensive lighting upgrade on the south oval is expected to cost $209,000. In addition, quotes for extending the change rooms and facilities range between $20,000 and $30,000. On behalf of the club I make a strong case for federal funding to support the upgrade of sporting facilities at Macdonald Reserve. One possible source of funding is from the next round of the Stronger Communities Program, due later this year. I look forward to working with committee members, the state member for Hillarys, Peter Katsambanis MLA, and local government representatives Mayor Albert Jacob and Councillor Christine Hamilton-Prime from the City of Joondalup to secure the necessary funding to complete this worthy project.