03 July, 2017

$7.7m boost to Adelaide’s netball facilities

Joint Media Release

Two of Adelaide’s top netball facilities, the Netball SA Priceline Stadium and the Park Lands netball hub, are to receive a combined $7.7 million infrastructure upgrade.

Netball is the most popular female sport in South Australia and the nation, and the upgrades are aimed at increasing female participation in sport at both amateur and elite level.

‘Wikaparntu Wira’ (Park 22), home to 20 community netball courts in the South West Park Lands, will receive a $3.2 million Planning and Development Fund grant to revitalise the precinct.

The upgrade includes resurfacing of the existing 20 courts, new seating, new community courts, a new lawn area and playspace, improved lighting and walking trails. The project will be completed in December 2017.

The Government has committed over $20 million from the Planning and Development Fund towards projects which support the vision of the Park Lands as attractive, diverse, resilient and alive with activity.

Netball SA Priceline Stadium is receiving a $4.5 million injection to fund key infrastructure improvements at the home of netball in South Australia.

The investment will enhance the complex to ensure it maintains its competition standards and provides a comfortable and welcoming environment for the 300,000 people who use it on an annual basis, ranking it as one of the State’s most frequented sporting venues.

The funding will contribute to upgrading the indoor stadium lighting, public address system, scoreboards, electrical, mechanical, fire and hydraulic services and player facilities.

The works will create approximately 12 local jobs and will support the maintenance of the existing 86 full-time, part-time and casual employees of Netball SA at the venue into the future.

Background

Nearly 190,000 people use the Wikaparntu Wira (Park 22) courts each year for school and amateur club games, and more than 300,000 people attend Netball SA Priceline Stadium each year.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning John Rau

Netball is a great participation sport. It involves thousands of young women and their families, and they deserve a modern safe place to play their sport.

This upgrade has been a long time coming and will be welcomed by players and their spectators alike.

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis

In the past two Budgets the State Government has invested heavily to help increase women’s participation in sport.

Last year we committed $10 million to construct female-friendly facilities at sporting clubs, and this year we are increasing that funding by an additional $14 million, as well as upgrading Priceline Stadium.

I’m pleased that the State Government is also able to support local clubs and players through this announcement today to revitalise this precinct of 20 community courts.

Quotes attributable to SA Women in Sport Taskforce Chair Katrine Hildyard

To achieve gender equality in sport, we must provide facilities that are of a great standard and accessible to girls and women so that they can play the sports they love.

Investment in local netball gives women and girls better facilities in which to participate, excel and reach for their sporting dreams. This investment demonstrates our commitment to advancing girls and women in sport, achieving gender equality in sport, and taking action that makes real and positive change.

Quotes attributable to City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese

The netball courts in the South West Park Lands are one of the best-utilised sporting facilities in the City of Adelaide and we welcome this investment by the State Government.

Improving sporting facilities in the Park Lands will encourage more participation in sport, increasing levels of physical activity and wellbeing in our community.

We are pleased to partner with the State Government to deliver a top-grade sporting hub for one of the most popular sports in the country.

Image: Park 22 Concept image

Simon Latimer