❓ The Minister for Sport and Recreation responds to a question regarding the McGowan Labor government's investment in a state football centre, highlighting its benefits for the WA football community, grassroots development, and economic recovery post-COVID-19.
AnsweredQoN 417Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE FOOTBALL CENTRE
417. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's decision to invest half of $32.5 million, which is $16.25 million,
to build WA's first state football centre and deliver yet another
job-creating project.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house what this project will mean for WA's football
community, in particular, those at the grassroots level?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how the construction of this project will support
workers and businesses as the economy recovers from COVID-19?
417. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's decision to invest half of $32.5 million, which is $16.25 million,
to build WA's first state football centre and deliver yet another
job-creating project.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house what this project will mean for WA's football
community, in particular, those at the grassroots level?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how the construction of this project will support
workers and businesses as the economy recovers from COVID-19?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question and his advocacy on behalf of the vast
community of soccer players and fans in Western Australia. I was pleased to
announce on Sunday, along with the Premier, that the state government will contribute $16.25 million towards a $32.5 million
state football centre facility to serve the rapidly growing sport of
soccer. Soccer has experienced an extraordinary growth rate of 45 per cent since 2006. Those figures outstrip any other
sport. The sport needs support to be able to run soccer or world football, as it is known, into the future. A lot of work still needs to be done
to make sure we get it right. This exciting project will help stimulate the
economy. As we know, as a result of COVID-19 we need jobs going forward. This
facility was virtually job ready. The community is very well accepting of this
project. A $32 million build is certainly going to help the tradies, such as
electricians, as well as the contractors, who get a spin-off from it. It was
also very pleasing to hear the mayor come out in very strong support of this
facility, which includes the grassroots area. He was very keen to make sure
that his community has sporting facilities available for young people, not just
the elite. I made that very clear in a speech during the announcement. The
facility will include training facilities and pitches to support both junior
and high performance development as well as grassroots and community football
programs.
Having a centre that can cater for
all levels of football is extremely important. At times we have seen a drift
away to only the elite being catered for. This will not be the case with this
centre. It will also be a home base for Football West, which has been moved to
different venues over the last couple of years. It put its roots down for a while and then different things happened and
it had to move on. I really appreciate the work that has been done by
Football West, from the CEO through to the chair. Its programs have made sure
that there has been increased participation in the sport. The facility will
also have the capacity to host training camps for national and international
teams, now that we are a central component of the Australia–New Zealand
bid for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. We put our hands up, and
hopefully we will be able to attract some games to Perth. The elites will have
an excellent facility that will be constructed on vacant land at the north of
Queens Park open space in the City of Canning. The state government will work
with the city to develop a master plan to revitalise the broader Queens Park
precinct for community recreation as part of this project. Again, I cannot say
enough how much the mayor was excited about the development. This is also fantastic
news for the local area. The locals will also be able to use the facility. They
will not be shut out or banned from using the facility.
One of the most exciting parts of the
day we made the announcement was watching the Premier honing his skills. To
kick three out of four goals on the trot was pretty good. I was concerned when
I saw him hand $50 to the goalie after the
game. The Premier was up in the left corner, up in the right corner and along the ground. He absolutely wowed the crowd, not only with the election promise,
but also with his skills.
The SPEAKER : Minister, I'll
give you 50 bucks if you wind this up!
Mr M.P. MURRAY : We never
know where the next champion is coming from. If we do not put the facilities
out there, we will not get those champions. It was with great pleasure that I was
party to that announcement.
thank the member for the question and his advocacy on behalf of the vast
community of soccer players and fans in Western Australia. I was pleased to
announce on Sunday, along with the Premier, that the state government will contribute $16.25 million towards a $32.5 million
state football centre facility to serve the rapidly growing sport of
soccer. Soccer has experienced an extraordinary growth rate of 45 per cent since 2006. Those figures outstrip any other
sport. The sport needs support to be able to run soccer or world football, as it is known, into the future. A lot of work still needs to be done
to make sure we get it right. This exciting project will help stimulate the
economy. As we know, as a result of COVID-19 we need jobs going forward. This
facility was virtually job ready. The community is very well accepting of this
project. A $32 million build is certainly going to help the tradies, such as
electricians, as well as the contractors, who get a spin-off from it. It was
also very pleasing to hear the mayor come out in very strong support of this
facility, which includes the grassroots area. He was very keen to make sure
that his community has sporting facilities available for young people, not just
the elite. I made that very clear in a speech during the announcement. The
facility will include training facilities and pitches to support both junior
and high performance development as well as grassroots and community football
programs.
Having a centre that can cater for
all levels of football is extremely important. At times we have seen a drift
away to only the elite being catered for. This will not be the case with this
centre. It will also be a home base for Football West, which has been moved to
different venues over the last couple of years. It put its roots down for a while and then different things happened and
it had to move on. I really appreciate the work that has been done by
Football West, from the CEO through to the chair. Its programs have made sure
that there has been increased participation in the sport. The facility will
also have the capacity to host training camps for national and international
teams, now that we are a central component of the Australia–New Zealand
bid for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. We put our hands up, and
hopefully we will be able to attract some games to Perth. The elites will have
an excellent facility that will be constructed on vacant land at the north of
Queens Park open space in the City of Canning. The state government will work
with the city to develop a master plan to revitalise the broader Queens Park
precinct for community recreation as part of this project. Again, I cannot say
enough how much the mayor was excited about the development. This is also fantastic
news for the local area. The locals will also be able to use the facility. They
will not be shut out or banned from using the facility.
One of the most exciting parts of the
day we made the announcement was watching the Premier honing his skills. To
kick three out of four goals on the trot was pretty good. I was concerned when
I saw him hand $50 to the goalie after the
game. The Premier was up in the left corner, up in the right corner and along the ground. He absolutely wowed the crowd, not only with the election promise,
but also with his skills.
The SPEAKER : Minister, I'll
give you 50 bucks if you wind this up!
Mr M.P. MURRAY : We never
know where the next champion is coming from. If we do not put the facilities
out there, we will not get those champions. It was with great pleasure that I was
party to that announcement.
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