No. 54

NEW PLAYING FIELD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HARRISON

A water-efficient playing field worth $800,000 will be built in the new Gungahlin suburb of Harrison, Planning Minister Simon Corbell announced today.

“The Stanhope Government has allocated $800,000 in the 2006-07 Budget for the construction of a neighbourhood oval that will be used by future adjacent public and non-government schools and the community,” Mr Corbell said.

“These ovals are an essential part of providing Gungahlin with an equitable level of community facilities as its population steadily increases.

“As in Amaroo, construction of the playing fields and roads will precede the construction of a co-located high school and primary school. The primary school is scheduled to open in January 2008.

“The neighbourhood ovals will have a grass species that uses up to 50 per cent less water than the cool-season grass usually used on playing fields.”

Forward design has already been completed so that construction can start in November 2006 and be completed by May 2007. 

“The neighbourhood oval will be included in the maintenance management program of Parks and Places, and water assets will be maintained by ActewAGL,” Mr Corbell said.

He said the playing fields, between Nullabor Avenue and Mapleton Avenue, would be accessed from a new road that had separate Budget funding of $4.2 million.