Western Sydney Sporting Facilities

Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO (Penrith) [12.49 p.m.]: I move:

That this House:

(1) congratulates the Government on the recent announcement of a $5 million upgrade of the Credit Union Australia Stadium at Penrith; and

(2) congratulates the Government on improving sporting and recreational facilities in Western Sydney.

The Iemma Government is committed to improving sporting and recreational facilities in Western Sydney, with a $5 million allocation to upgrade the Credit Union Australia [CUA] Stadium in Penrith—the home of the Penrith Panthers—and budgetary allocations for a number of other sporting facilities from the grassroots community level through to the development of elite sport. The Government's $5 million commitment for the CUA stadium will complete stage two of the redevelopment of the Penrith stadium master plan, which has been ongoing since 2007. I commend the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr Graham West, for allocating funding for that project last year.

In February 2007 Premier Morris Iemma announced that funding allocation at a home match that I attended where I watched the mighty Panthers play. Unfortunately, they did not win the game, but they played quite well at the CUA stadium. I thank the member for Londonderry and the member for Mulgoa for their commitment to improving sporting facilities in their local area and for the work that they have done to lobby for and improve Penrith's sporting facilities, in particular, the Penrith CUA stadium upgrade. The CUA stadium upgrade, a long-term community effort, commenced in 2002. Members of the community made representations to me as I have lived in the electorate all my life and I have attended matches at Penrith stadium. In the 1960s I remember going to a match with my grandparents, taking our thermos flask with us and sitting on the hill. That hill changed a few years ago as a result of the first stage of the redevelopment and upgrades to the western grandstand.

The Iemma Government's $5 million allocation will provide for the upgrading of the eastern grandstand, which at present has no disabled access or lift access to the corporate boxes, so workers have to carry all their gear to that area, and that poses occupational health and safety issues. Of major concern is the lack of appropriate amenities at the eastern grandstand. I referred earlier to the games that the Penrith Panthers play, but quite a lot of soccer or football is also played at the stadium. People use the venue for a range of sporting activities. The Iemma Government's $5 million allocation will provide for upgrading of amenities at the eastern grandstand, access for the disabled, and the installation of a lift to a viewing platform. A lift will also be provided for workers at the CUA stadium to enable them to move resources to that area. People will have access to the eastern grandstand and void space in an undercroft will be filled with rooms for community organisations, such as the Western Sydney Institute of Sport, or for the Penrith Rugby League Panthers on the Prowl program.

Proposed upgrades to the eastern grandstand will make the CUA stadium a first-class sporting venue. On the completion of this upgrade the Rugby League World Cup will be played at the CUA stadium. I look forward to Tonga playing Samoa at that match in October. The CUA stadium is not the only sporting and recreational facility that the Iemma Government has improved; wonderful sporting grounds in the Penrith electorate have been supported by local capital assistance program [CAP] grants. A few years ago Blue Mountains Rugby received money from a CAP grant and was able to add to its changing rooms, which I unveiled. I have not seen the plaque, but first-grade rugby union players have told me that it is located in the men's changing rooms. I acknowledge the Government's contribution by way of a CAP grant.

CAP grants have enabled the upgrading of facilities at the Glenbrook and Lapstone tennis clubs. The Sydney International Regatta Centre received funding to repair floorboards and upgrade footpaths. In 2008 CAP grants were allocated to the Waratah's Junior Rugby League Football Stadium to improve amenities in Doug Rennie Fields. Under this year's CAP grants the Sydney International Hockey Centre, which is located in the grounds of the University of Western Sydney, will also be upgraded. Regional sporting facilities have also been upgraded. The Penrith District Netball Association received funding to upgrade its amenity and administrative blocks. All those men and women who play netball at the Nepean District Netball Association complex in Jamison Park will appreciate using those improved amenities.

In May last year the Premier announced a $1 million boost for disability sports in New South Wales. That funding will provide $250,000 each year for the next five years to enable the extension of community-based sports programs for people with disabilities. The Sydney International Regatta Centre, which is located in the Penrith electorate, is home to Sailability NSW—a project that commenced as part of the disability sports assistance program. This financial year 36 community and sporting organisations throughout New South Wales have been awarded funding under that program. Sailability NSW and the Penrith District Football Association are sharing $34,000 in State grants as part of a program to address the sporting and physical activity needs of people with a disability.

Sailability NSW is using $20,000 to run a series of open days and regattas at Penrith Lakes to teach sailing skills to people with a disability. The overall focus of Sailability NSW at a grassroots level will be on personal development, social interaction and participation for people with disabilities. I commend the Iemma Government for introducing that program. One-off sporting support provided by the State Government has enabled the grants scheme, which was previously restricted to greater Western Sydney, to be extended across New South Wales. In addition to programs in specific areas, such as the Junction House program, there is funding for statewide programs such as the Australian Electronic Wheelchair Hockey Association program to teach coaches and referees, and the Disabled Winter Sports Association program to teach ski instructors and ski guides to increase availability of ski programs and services for people with disabilities, which is to be commended.

Earlier I mentioned the capital assistance grants. The Iemma Government is committed to ensuring that people have more opportunities to participate in their chosen sport or recreational activity with the aim of achieving good health for all sections of the community. This applies not only to Western Sydney as defined by the Penrith area, but broadly in other parts of Western Sydney. The Parramatta Stadium Trust has received a $6 million grant towards the redevelopment of the southern grandstand at Parramatta Stadium—the home of the Parramatta Eels. The grandstand will provide an extra 2,700 seats and will increase the overall stadium capacity by 15 per cent.

I commend the working party that will ensure the $6 million grant for the Credit Union Australia Stadium at Penrith is well spent. At the moment that project is on time and on budget. Formwork for the lifts and the undercross construction has commenced. I note that Penrith Panthers, Penrith City Council and the private companies involved in the project are working towards improving the facilities for western Sydney.

Mr WAYNE MERTON (Baulkham Hills) [1.00 p.m.]: I support additional sporting and recreational facilities for Western Sydney. I had the privilege of being born and bred in Wentworthville and attending school at Granville South Public School and later Fairfield High School. Indeed, if I may digress slightly, it was my pleasure and privilege only last week to attend Granville South Public School and meet the principal. It was a wonderful occasion to return to the school where I commenced my education. I was fortunate to find an old school photograph. Whilst the school has undergone some changes, in the days when I attended many children did not wear school shoes. Of course, now the children are resplendent in their lovely school uniform. The school now essentially has many multicultural Australian students, and provides a happy learning environment for young people.

Returning to the topic at hand of sporting and recreational facilities in Western Sydney, I note that notice of this motion on 5 June 2007 referred to the recent announcement of a $5 million upgrade of the Credit Union Australia Stadium at Penrith. Of course, whilst I visit Penrith as much as possible, I am not the local member and would not encroach upon her territory on a daily basis. I am not aware of the stadium's present state of construction, but I assume that it has been completed.

Mrs Karyn Paluzzano: It is being constructed as we speak.

Mr WAYNE MERTON: It is being constructed now—that is what rang the alarm bells. No-one would deny that the member for Penrith is an enthusiastic member for her electorate; today she was resplendent and keen in speaking to her motion. However, it occurred to me that on 5 June also she was pleased to receive the announcement of a $5 million upgrade for the Penrith stadium. Yet here we are, 12 months later to the day, and work on that stadium has not finished. Like everything else this Iemma Government promises the community, this project is on the old drip feed: drip, drip, drip, slowly, slowly does it. I am reminded of the North West Rail Link, which has an interesting history dating back to 1988. The Minister of the day promised that the North West Rail Link would be completed by 2010. Now, many years later, when the rail link was supposed to be nearing completion, no work has been done. However, returning to the motion—

Dr Andrew McDonald: Point of order: My point of is order relates to relevance. I refer to Standing Order 129. I was interested to hear about the North West Rail Link, but it does not fall within the ambit of the motion.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! The member for Baulkham Hills knows from his experience in this place that he should return to the motion being discussed.

Mr WAYNE MERTON: The member could appreciate that it was merely a passing remark. In fact, by the time he was quick enough to get to his feet, the moment had passed and I had moved very quickly across to Penrith. Unfortunately, the Baulkham Hills transport system does not allow people to move as quickly as I did! The people of Penrith deserve the best. Penrith is a vibrant central business district area; it is a vibrant and wonderfully picturesque community that enjoys a tremendous amount of parklands. As I told the member for Penrith earlier, when I was a student at Fairfield Boys High School we often played cricket at Penrith oval and it certainly was an enjoyable experience.

Mr Barry Collier: Not as good as Bradman.

Mr WAYNE MERTON: I can assure the member that there was no comparison between Bradman and me.

Mr Barry Collier: He is an honest man.

Mr WAYNE MERTON: Bradman had an average of slightly less than 100, and mine was not quite as high as that.

Mr Barry Collier: Not even in the backyard?

Mr WAYNE MERTON: Of course, I was 400 not out on many occasions in the backyard. I return to the motion. When the chips are down this Government takes Western Sydney for granted. The Government considers Western Sydney to be its heartland. The 23 or 24 electorates that form the Greater Western Sydney area, as allocated by this Government, have something like 10 per cent of the Australian population. It has also the third greatest business output of Australia after Sydney and Melbourne. Western Sydney is an essential part of our Australian culture, life and economy, but at the end of the day its people have been denied resources. I note that the $5 million grant for the Penrith stadium was allocated in 2006-07.

Mrs Karyn Paluzzano: No, it was 2007.

Mr WAYNE MERTON: No. This $5 million allocation is in the 2006-07 budget proposal. After reading the budget papers I find it hard to determine how much has been spent to date on that stadium. Perhaps the member for Penrith could explain in reply how much has been spent of the money allocated in 2007. How much work as been done on the commitment of her Government to Western Sydney? At the end of the day this State Government is very big on talk, very big on making statements and promises, and very big on "gonna". The reality is that many projects end up on a drip-feed situation.

I suggest that the member for Penrith, who is a hardworking member, keep pushing her Government because the squeaking wheel often gets the oil. She certainly works very hard for her community. I sympathise with her regarding the enormous problems she faces working under a Government that considers this area its heartland on the basis that, like homing pigeons, at election time the people of the heartland will come home to roost. I urge the member for Penrith not to be misled into a false sense of security. When the great day comes on the fourth Saturday in March 2011, many of those pigeons will change direction. Those pigeons, the people of Western Sydney, will have had enough. Enough is enough! They turned on the Howard Government. They will turn to the Coalition.

Mr Barry Collier: Point of order: This debate is not about racing pigeons or electoral prospects for the member for Baulkham Hills or the Coalition in 2011. I ask you to bring him back to the leave of the motion.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! The second part of the motion refers to sporting and recreational facilities in Western Sydney, and racing pigeons need sporting facilities.

Mr WAYNE MERTON: The reality is that the State Labor Government has a dismal record. I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out paragraph (2) with a view to inserting instead:

(2) condemns the Government for its failure to provide sufficient funding and resources for sports and recreational facilities in Western Sydney.

The people of Western Sydney have suffered the legacy of this Government's failure, its taking people for granted, and its betrayal of the people who have been Labor's voting core for years and years. As I stated before I was interrupted, I advise the member for Penrith not to take the people of Western Sydney for granted. A classic example of the Government's failure is that money was allocated in 2007 as part of the 2006-07 budget, but very little has been done with that money. [Time expired.]

Dr ANDREW McDONALD (Macquarie Fields) [1.11 p.m.]: The Macquarie Fields area will receive more than $40,000 for local sporting facilities under the lemma Government's 2007-08 Capital Assistance Program. The funding includes $10,602 to the Campbelltown City Council for the construction of a barbeque area and shelter at Bensley Reserve, which is home of the mighty Gunners, and $24,700 to Campbelltown City Council for an upgrade of the existing floodlighting at the Milton Park Softball Complex, which is now a major facility for softball in south-western Sydney.

Many other facilities have been completed. For example on 12 April I was able to be at the Ash Road complex, near the M7 at Prestons, to help open the marvellous facilities for local teams, such as Liverpool Robins soccer club, with funding jointly provided by the Liverpool City Council and the New South Wales Government. This year a total of $4 million has been allocated under the State Government's sports Capital Assistance Program for 299 sporting facilities across the State. Through the Capital Assistance Program, the Government helps local councils and not-for-profit sport and recreation groups to develop sports facilities for the community by funding up to 50 per cent of a project's cost.

As much of the work is done by volunteers, this is second-to-none value for money for our people, and excellent for public health. Most of the beneficiaries of the funding are our children. Childhood sets up your behaviour for life, and children who remain active as adults will increase their life expectancy. If governments are serious about enhancing population health in the most cost-effective way, they should build sporting facilities, not intensive care units. As another example of its commitment, the Iemma Government has provided $150,000 this year to the South West Sydney Academy of Sport.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport was established in 1997 by the New South Wales Labor Government to service the south-western Sydney region, which includes the local government areas of Liverpool, Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly. I was able to attend the academy's annual dinner last year. The academy's mission statement is "to provide high quality, community focused, talented athlete identification and development programs, which assist athletes to successfully realise their sporting potential". The academy's role is to facilitate the development of and support talented junior athletes in the region—we have a large number of those participating in many sports—to provide those athletes with access to specialist support services, including coaching, sports science and sports medicine, to identify and support the development of high performance coaches at the local level, and to provide a clear pathway for athletes from junior development through to State and national representation.

The academy's focus is therefore more on the development of athletes rather than competition and winning. Most participants will never be professional athletes, but all will be able to excel in their sport for many years, with health benefits for generations. The New South Wales Government and local councils are principal partners in the South West Sydney Academy of Sport. Other sponsors include Softball NSW, Tennis NSW, Hockey NSW and local businesses, such as the Paul Wakeling Motor Group—this is another example of the extensive local philanthropy by Mr Paul Wakeling—AMP, and Snap Printing.

The academy offers programs in sports such as athletics, hockey, football, rugby union, golf, basketball, softball, and tennis, and provides coach education. Graduates of the academy who have competed at an international level include Bronwyn Eagles in athletics and James Darby in baseball. The local profile of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport and the achievements of its graduates encourage all our local athletes to participate in and play sport. There is nothing better for the self-esteem of a young person than to excel in any field. This excellence builds resilience that spills over into all aspects of their lives.

By having these excellent facilities and coaching support for our local young people, we build the future of our community. The facilities will help meet the State Plan target of increasing by 10 per cent participation in sport and recreation activities by 2016. Finally, I encourage all in this House, including those present in the gallery, to lead by example, and do 30 minutes of moderate activity four days per week. They will look and feel better—and live longer!

Mr NINOS KHOSHABA (Smithfield) [1.16 p.m.]: The Iemma Government continues to invest in community and elite sporting facilities for a range of sports right across New South Wales. The Smithfield area will receive $45,907 for local sporting facilities in the 2007-08 Sport and Recreation Capital Assistance Program. This funding comprises $15,907 to the Fairfield City Council for new cricket nets at Terone Park and $30,000 to the Holroyd City Council for the renovation and resurfacing of the oval at the Gipps Road Sporting Complex. The Capital Assistance Program helps communities to build facilities that support local athletes and encourages better health and wellbeing. The Iemma Government wants more people to use parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participate in sport and physical exercise. The Government's grants will assist in achieving that aim.

Last year the Iemma Government provided $500,000 to improve the warm-up riding area at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre in the Smithfield electorate to ensure that the equestrian centre's world-class standard is maintained. Drainage was installed at the warm-up arena to ensure that excess water is removed from the new sand surface that has been installed as part of the project, thereby decreasing the risk of mishap to equestrian competitors. The new surface also will reduce the maintenance that the warm-up arena requires. The Sydney International Equestrian Centre was established in 2000 for the Sydney Olympics and is Australia's top location for equine events. Once the upgrade to the warm-up arena is complete, it will complement the 14 world-class show jumping and dressage arenas that are situated on 6.5 hectares of purpose-built sand and grass surfaces.

The Sydney Equestrian Centre hosts more than 80 events each year and has more than 42,000 competitors and visitors trotting through its doors. Improvements to the facility will assist the centre to meet further demands, increase the number of international events, and facilitate the accommodation of equestrian groups, schools and community groups. The Sydney International Equestrian Centre is a major venue that provides an important economic boost to Western Sydney through the spectators and competitors it attracts. The Iemma Government encourages participation in sport and recreation, not just through the provision of grants to improve facilities, but by increasing capacity in a range of activities. One way in which the Government does that is through the Women's Sports Leadership Scholarship Program.

No amateur sport would be possible without the valuable contribution of volunteer coaches, referees and other sporting officials. The Government assists those people with training and other support. While the participation of women in sport and recreation in New South Wales is higher than is the case in some other States, it is generally lower than it is for men. The Women's Sports Leadership Scholarship Program is designed to boost the number of women in leadership and decision-making positions in the sport and recreation industry. This year 69 scholarships worth a total of $79,000 have been awarded to women from a variety of sports, including cricket, gymnastics and tennis.

Twenty-seven coaching and official development scholarships have been awarded to help recipients undertake accredited training and qualifications to assist their progress in this field. Twenty-four sports leadership scholarships have been granted that will enable recipients to undertake a comprehensive four-day professional development course in sports administration and management. Seventeen sports management and development scholarships have been awarded for further professional development, such as courses to help build accounting, marketing or quality management skills. In addition, six State sporting organisations have received funding grants worth a total of $21,000 for initiatives that specifically assist women to progress in a particular sport and provide women with appropriate training and support networks within the sport. In the past 11 years since it began, the Women's Sports Leadership Scholarship Program has awarded more than 450 scholarships throughout New South Wales. The Iemma Government's Far West Travel Scheme helps people in remote areas of the State to participate in regular sporting competitions and events by assisting them with travel expenses.

Mr Wayne Merton: Point of order: Although I am reluctant to interrupt the excellent speech of the member for Smithfield, he has gone far beyond the leave of the motion. The motion refers specifically to Western Sydney and the member is now talking about far western New South Wales. It is a question of relevance. I ask you to bring him back to the leave of the motion.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): I am sure the member for Smithfield will come back to the motion as he draws his remarks to a close.

Mr NINOS KHOSHABA: I was about to do so, Mr Acting-Speaker. The Iemma Government is committed to improving access to, and involvement in, the sport and recreation industry at all levels for all residents of New South Wales.

Mr ALLAN SHEARAN (Londonderry) [1.22 p.m.]: I support my colleague the member for Penrith in acknowledging the exciting program of works underway at Penrith stadium. Many other sporting facilities require similar assistance, and the Government is providing it throughout Western Sydney. The Iemma Government is committed to sustaining and enhancing community access to a wide range of sports. We want to see more people using parks and sporting and recreational facilities, and ensuring that these facilities are in top condition will help this to happen. In February this year the Londonderry electorate was granted $45,000 for local sporting facilities under the Iemma Government's 2007-08 Sport and Recreation Capital Assistance Program. Of this funding, $20,000 went to the Hawkesbury City Council for the installation of shade shelters and seating facilities at Smith Park; and the remaining $25,000 went to YMCA Camp Yarramundi for the modification of a cabin at the camp. These grants are vital to our communities. Not only do such upgrades promote sport and physical fitness but also they support community initiatives to counter obesity among young people and promote fitness in older people.

In addition to this funding, under the annual Regional Sports Facility Program the New South Wales Government helps sports and community groups and local government organisations construct or upgrade major sporting facilities throughout the State. The Londonderry electorate received more than $250,000 from both government programs in the past financial year. Some $200,000 was provided for the upgrade of the Richmond Swimming Centre; $17,450 was provided to resurface tennis courts at the Richmond Tennis Centre; $4,260 was provided for the installation of starting platforms at the swimming pool at the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury; $15,000 was for provided for the construction of an underground water supply at the Londonderry soccer field; and $13,400 was provided for the provision of a cross-country course and riders ring at the Londonderry Pony Club.

The Government is 100 per cent committed to ensuring that people have more opportunities to pursue their chosen sport or to take part in their favourite recreational activity. The most recent figures reveal that more than 570,000 children aged between 5 and 14 years participate in organised sport and physical activity in New South Wales. This equates to 54.7 per cent of all children in this age group in New South Wales, and is a 4 per cent increase on April 2003 figures. The Government, in addition to the capital assistance program and the Regional Sports Facility Program, has launched a number of initiatives that encourage more young people to get involved in sport and physical activity. In April this year the Premier launched the Premier's Sporting Challenge, which included a $58 million funding boost to reinvigorate sport and activity in public schools. This challenge requires primary and secondary school students to keep a logbook and tally their time spent participating in any moderate to vigorous physical activities. The Premier also launched a website on which schools can register to take advantage of the program.

In addition, the Government is investing $50 million to provide schools with the sports equipment they need to engage in the program. The Premier's Sporting Challenge will increase the popularity of, and participation in, sports and physical activities for children in the Londonderry and Fairfield areas, as well as right across New South Wales. Information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed the top five sports and physical activities for children in New South Wales in the 12 months to 2003. Soccer came in at number one, with a participation rate of almost 20 per cent. This means that more than 175,000 people aged between 4 and 15 years participate in the game. Next was swimming, with 155,000 participants; and netball, with 80,000 participants. Rugby league came in fourth, with a participation rate of 7.7 per cent and almost 70,000 children taking part. Tennis was fifth, with more than 55,000 participants.

While New South Wales boasts a large number of children who take part in sport and who lead active and healthy lifestyles, the Government is working towards encouraging even more children to get involved. Physical activity is absolutely essential for children and young adults not just for their physical wellbeing but also for their mental and social development. With the most recent health data revealing that about a quarter of school students are overweight or obese—as are more than half of all adults—we must face this issue head on as a community. In addition to the grants and the funding that I have mentioned, the Iemma Government is spending $10 million providing additional upgrades to specialist sports high schools. Beneficiaries include Hunter, Endeavour, Illawarra, Matraville, Narrabeen, The Hills, and Westfields sports high schools. These initiatives and funding grants work to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to school communities, which encourages lifelong participation in sport and physical recreation.

Just last week the Iemma Government announced funding of more than $2.7 million for the development of sport in New South Wales. The funding is allocated to State sporting organisations and peak industry bodies. This injection of funding will benefit the sports of golf, yachting, archery, netball, ice-skating, polocrosse, swimming and volleyball. By providing assistance for specific projects, we are enabling precise focus on identified areas of need. The Iemma Government, through its leading sporting initiatives and funding of sports across New South Wales, is ensuring that our future generations have the best possible foundation for a healthy life. [Time expired.]

Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO (Penrith) [1.28 p.m.], in reply: I thank members who spoke to this most important motion about sport and recreation and the $5-million upgrade of the Credit Union Australia Stadium—the home of the mighty Panthers. Good luck on Sunday, guys! I note that once again the Opposition did not meet its quota of speakers for the debate. That is most disappointing. Several Labor members who represent electorates in Western Sydney outlined the capital assistance grants and sporting programs provided by the Iemma Government. I acknowledge the contributions of members representing the electorates of Macquarie Fields, Smithfield and Londonderry.

Mrs Judy Hopwood: Point of order: In response to the comment by the member for Penrith regarding Opposition speakers in the debate only one Government member—the Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health)—spoke to my motion.

ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! There is no point of order.

Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO: The member for Baulkham Hills commended my efforts as a local member. It is great to get support from both sides of politics: we all work hard as members of Parliament. The stadium working party that has been rolling out the $5 million upgrade met soon after the money was delivered to Penrith City Council. It met in September, December and last week. As members know, plans for a $5 million construction are not done in a day. Scoping works have to be carried out and architects have to be commissioned for the planning. A quantity surveyor ascertains the cost of the project and then tenders are called for, all of which does not happen overnight with due diligence and the appropriate governance. The project is on time and on budget.

Pursuant to sessional orders business interrupted and set down as an order of the day for a future day.

[The Acting-Speaker (Mr Thomas George) left the chair at 1.30 p.m. The House resumed at 2.15 p.m.]