Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The first sod has been turned, and construction on what is going to be a fantastic community project is officially underway in Devonport, in Tassie. Located on Devonport's magnificent waterfront, the new Devonport Oval Sports Complex will be so much more than just a series of surfaces. It will be a pivotal space for sport on Tassie's north-west coast. When completed, it will be home to six sports: footy, cricket, athletics, cycling, basketball and netball. Backed by Devonport City Council, this project is a true investment in sport, health and community. It goes way beyond infrastructure, although the infrastructure will be impressive. It will boast indoor and outdoor courts, high-performance cricket centres, training facilities and administration buildings. There will also be the St Lukes wellness hub for use by community groups, to run activities promoting preventive health and general wellbeing, which will be a fantastic resource for the entire coast.

It's the potential to forge real community connections that makes this project so exciting. For the first time on the north-west coast, six different sporting clubs and codes will come together using amenities that would be unattainable for each group on its own. The use of shared social spaces will bring together people of all ages and backgrounds, all united with the love of sport. That's why the federal Labor government has committed $25 million towards this outstanding project led by the member for Braddon, because it's not just the bricks and mortar that are important. It's about the future of local sports, about kids starting out with Auskick and ending up playing for the seniors. From tai chi to netball, regardless of the weather, local sport will find a place to grow and thrive. I look forward, along with thousands of fellow north-west coasters, to the progress on this fantastic project; we eagerly await its completion.

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