28/12/04
State Government support announced today would ensure the long-term future of three major sports in Western Australia.
Sport and Recreation Minister Bob Kucera said the State Government had been working with football, netball and hockey to find ways to provide assistance that suited their particular needs.
Mr Kucera said the package, totalling more than $27million, included a $5million loan that would convert to a grant for the Western Australian Cricket Association, announced on Friday (December 24).
“The assistance the State Government can give to these sporting organisations will free them up to get on with the job of delivering their sport at both community and elite level,” he said.
“The reason this support can be delivered is because the Gallop Government has continued to operate a sound financial plan, unlike the Coalition, which continued to run deficit Budgets.”
WA’s highest participation sport, WA Netball, will receive State Government support, with $5million earmarked over two years to kick-start the organisation’s plans for a State training centre. WA Netball has conducted a feasibility study to select a preferred site for what would be the home of netball, a training base for the Perth Orioles and up to seven state-of-the-art courts.
In an effort to help the Western Australian Football Commission with its financial management of Subiaco Oval, the State Government has decided to retire early its portion of the debt, following the redevelopment of the oval. The State portion of the remaining debt has been calculated at $14.5million (net present value).
In a similar move, the Government has also brought forward its debt repayment commitments on the Perth Hockey Stadium in Bentley. The debt results from a loan of $3.7million in 2001 for stadium improvements before the 2002 Women’s World Cup. The State had agreed to repay 75 per cent of the loan, due to run for 15 years. The State will repay a net present value figure of $3.125million this year.
This support for hockey was particularly important, because earlier this year WA successfully retained its only high performance program run by the Australian Institute of Sport - the hockey development program at the Perth Hockey Stadium.
“While each of the packages helping these sports is different, what they have in common is that they demonstrate the Government’s commitment to underpinning the long-term future of our sporting organisations in this State,” Mr Kucera said.
“Sports provide much more than enjoyment to players and entertainment for aficionados - there are health benefits, sport provides role models, it allows young people to develop to their fullest potential and is an industry in itself with jobs for associated industries.”
Minister's office: 9213 7000
