No. 87

IMPROVING OUR LOCAL SPORTING FACILITIES

The ACT Government will construct district playing fields at a cost of $3.750 million in Harrison as well as allocating $250,000 to improve Griffith Oval.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr said the district playing fields would go some way to meeting the growing needs of the Gungahlin sporting community.

“The fields, which will complement the new Harrison school, will include a pavilion, parking areas, landscaping, fencing and associated structures,” Mr Barr said. “As Canberra continues to grow, it is important we provide open spaces for sport and recreation. The Harrison District Playing Fields will provide the people of Gungahlin with an additional resource in their area with the field being available for use by the local community and its sporting teams. 

“These district playing fields will complement the neighbourhood oval, construction of which will start soon. On completion, the whole site will provide a hub for local sporting activity in Gungahlin.”

Mr Barr said in a time of drought and impending Stage 4 water restrictions, the Harrison District Playing Fields would be built with sustainability in mind.

“The fields will include a tank-and-pump system for watering, allowing for recycled and non-potable water to be used – including from storm water and ponds,” Mr Barr said. 

“A Comtrol computerised watering system will be installed, ensuring highly efficient management and control of water usage. The main field will also utilise a low-water-demand turf cover and we will investigate incorporating water absorbent gels into the soil, to further improve water management. These playing fields will be the first built in Canberra to ensure sustainability in a time of drought, and all future ovals will be modelled on this.”

Mr Barr said Griffith Oval would undergo a $250,000 improvement. 

“Griffith Oval is a much valued community oval, which is also the training base for the Brumbies,” he said. “To improve the aesthetics of the oval and provide a safer training environment for the Brumbies, a steel picket-type fence will be added to the site. This will ensure that the quality of the oval surface can be maintained and protected from dogs, vehicle access and other potentially hazardous activities.

“In these difficult times of drought, there will be continuing pressure to provide safe, well-maintained training and competition venues for local sporting squads – not only for the Brumbies but also local sports groups.”