Independent Member for Elwick, Bec Thomas, has called on the Tasmanian Liberal Government to urgently deliver on its 2018 election promise of a new multi-purpose indoor sports facility in Glenorchy.

 

During question time on Thursday, Ms Thomas asked the Government to provide an update on the proposed facility, which was pitched in the 2018-19 Budget Paper No. 2 as a complex which will provide ‘fit-for purpose, multi-use courts and sports amenities that will meet current and future demands of community and elite sports participants.

 

’“It is now over six years since this promise was made, and the people of the Northern Suburbs don’t even have certainty of location of this facility, let alone an expected completion or commencement date,” Ms Thomas said.

 

“Sadly, some sporting clubs are forced to turn kids away as there simply aren’t enough courts to meet demand. This is not only devastating for them, but it also means they are missing out on the many health and social benefits of that sport can bring.”

 

Noting that many local school indoor court facilities sit empty outside of school hours, Ms Thomas also urged the Government to provide funding to upgrade these spaces to acceptable and modern standards, until the multi-purpose complex is completed.

 

“There is a huge opportunity for the Government to work with local schools and grassroots community sporting organisations to provide more indoor courts to give our kids somewhere to play while it continues to plan and deliver the new multi-purpose indoor facility,” Ms Thomas said.

 

In response, the Government advised a shortlist of sites will be provided to the Minister for Sports and Events by the end of August. Ms Thomas said she will continue to advocate strongly for this much-needed facility.

 

“I’ll be closely following the Government’s progress with this project and requesting regular updates, with the aim of seeing this much needed and long-awaited facility delivered for our community,” Ms Thomas said.