Families are the big winners from this year’s record $401 million sport budget, with parents in NSW eligible for a $100 rebate to cover sporting club fees, including swimming lessons, for every school-aged child.
Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said an ‘Active Kids Rebate’ is the centrepiece of this year’s sport budget, with $207 million allocated for the program across the next four years to increase participation in sport.
“Quite simply, this budget will lower the cost for every school child to play sport, making sport more accessible and delivering back to families by reducing barriers to healthy activity,” Mr Ayres said.
“The biggest sport and recreation budget on record will tackle childhood obesity, encourage active lifestyles and invest in both our major and community sporting facilities.”
“Sport brings communities together and this budget aims to support participants at all levels – from grassroots clubs to elite athletes – along with making sure spectators have the best possible experience at our sporting venues.”
“We’re also rolling out more than 2,500 defibrillators to local sporting clubs across the state, through the $4 million over four years Local Sports Defibrillation Program. The initiative will transform spectators into first responders and ultimately save lives,” Mr Ayres said.
The budget allocates $160 million to progress work on the Western Sydney Stadium at Parramatta, $9 million to continue planning more stadia upgrades, $40 million for Rugby League Centres of Excellence and up to $30 million for the new Parramatta Pool.
NSW Government Sport and Recreation Centres will share in a $6 million funding pool for upgrades, WIN Stadium Northern Stand will get a $5.4 million upgrade and every Surf Club across NSW will be eligible to share in a $4 million grants pool.
SPORT BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:
· $207 million over four years to establish the Active Kids Rebate, reducing the cost for parents to enrol their school children in sporting activities across NSW.
· $40 million towards the Rugby League Centres of Excellence program to support elite training and community facilities.
· $160 million in 2017-18 to continue construction of a new Western Sydney Stadium at Parramatta.
· Up to $30 million to partner with the City of Parramatta to construct a new aquatic centre.
· $9 million to continue planning for the redevelopment of the Sydney stadia network as part of the Government’s commitment to building world-class stadia.
· $5.4 million to upgrade WIN Stadium Northern Stand at Wollongong.
· $6 million to upgrade Sport and Recreation Centres across NSW.
· $4 million for improvements to Surf Clubs across NSW.
· $4 million over four years for rollout of defibrillators at sports clubs
· $2.4 million to replace the electronic target systems at the Sydney International Shooting Centre
· $2 million to support Modernise and Optimise Regional Sport initiatives
