South Australia’s Minister for Recreation and Sport Leon Bignell has announced a further $658,654 of investment into netball, which will help Netball SA resurface 26 outdoor courts, install new court lighting and provide goal post protectors at Netball SA Stadium.
The funding is part of the 2013/2014 round of Special Purpose Grants , which will see around $4 million shared between more than 100 sport and recreation projects across the State.
Netball SA has more than 32,000 registered participants that play netball throughout the State.
Netball SA Stadium, the home of the Adelaide Thunderbirds and netball in South Australia, hosts 300,000 visitors per annum.
Thousands of women and girls play on the outdoor courts each week with the winter AMND competition hosting over 7000 people each Saturday.
New all-weather acrylic sports coating on the outdoor courts will reduce injury and player fatigue, increase the longevity of the surface and attract new participants to the sport, whilst the improved outdoor court lighting and goal post protectors will lead to increased safety for players along with operating efficiencies for the Stadium.
Netball SA CEO Ben Scales said the funding will directly benefit grass roots participants from across the State and will hopefully lead to increased participation in the sport.
“Netball SA Stadium is the home of netball and this investment will ensure that the Stadium continues to provide first-class facilities to the thousands of netballers that enjoy the playing each week,” Scales said.
“The court and facility upgrades will improve the participant experience at the Stadium, and hopefully attract new participants to the sport.”
Four netball clubs and facilities across SA recently shared $744,000 of State Government funding as part of the 2014/2015 Community Recreation and Sports Facilities Program.
These include:
– $500,000 to the City of Holdfast Bay to build 12 shared netball/tennis courts in Seacliff;
– $140,000 for Renmark Netball Club to resurface two existing netball courts, upgrade lighting and construct two new courts with lighting;
– $90,000 to Bordertown Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Netball Association to construct one new court, resurface the two existing courts and install lighting;
– $14,000 for Barossa Netball and District Football Club to resurface the Queen Victoria Jubilee Park Oval.
Header Photograph - © Aleksander Jason
