COMMUNITY sport facilities across Nicholls are in dire need of an upgrade, according to Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell MP. He is calling on the Government to provide funding to replace regional funding schemes established by the Coalition, after they were scrapped in Labor’s October budget.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Birrell highlighted the dire state of local sports facilities. He drew attention to Murchison Toolamba Football Netball Club, stating “The AFL audited 3,000 facilities across Victoria and Murchison Toolamba Football Netball Club ranked in the bottom 10 per cent. The tiny female change room has space for three players at a time and one shower.”
Mr Birrell also noted that although netball participation has remained strong for decades and AFLW participation is rapidly growing, club facilities are not keeping up. “We can’t promote female participation and not provide facilities,” he said.
He urged the Government to provide funding, stating “It is the Australian Government that needs to step up and invest in inclusive facilities that foster greater participation. The Coalition had the Building Better Regions Fund and Community Development Grants to fund these projects.”
Mr Birrell is continuing to visit netball and football clubs across the electorate and is aiming to train with every club during his first term. He believes that the lack of funding for community sports facilities is a major issue for the region, stating “We need to provide facilities that enable people to participate in sport, stay fit and healthy, and bring communities together.”
He called on the Labor Government to take action, saying “Get on with it – show some respect to regional communities.”
