Community sport wins with infrastructure investment
Investment by the Victorian Government into community sports infrastructure continues to power up community sport and active recreation across the state delivering a range of participation, social and economic benefits, a new report has revealed for the first time.
The Community Sports Infrastructure 2024 Outcomes Statement – a Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV) report, highlights the positive impacts of more than 330 government-funded projects.
The projects are part of more than $2.3 billion invested by government into community sports infrastructure over the past decade across the state, making Victoria the destination to live, stay and play.
From upgrades to local swimming pools to new women and girls’ change rooms, sports courts and fields, skate parks, pavilions and more, the results speak for themselves.
Partnerships with Local Government, sporting clubs, sporting organisations and schools have driven a range of health, social and economic benefits underpinned by the delivery of innovative, inclusive infrastructure and programs.
For example, the redevelopment of the Diamond Valley Sport and Fitness Centre, delivered in partnership with Nillumbik Shire Council, and made possible by a $10.5 million Victorian Government investment, has seen participation go from strength to strength.
Twelve months after the Centre re-opened in July 2022, participation increased more than 27%, with senior women showing the greatest increase of any group at more than 35%. A 24-hour gymnasium, additional courts and upgraded amenities have supported this increase with the facility hosting a wide range of activities from junior basketball matches through to NBL1 fixtures.
In the last 2 years alone more than 330 funded facilities, subject of the report, have increased participation by almost 43% or over 70,200 new participants, including a 19% increase in girls playing sport.
That’s more people of all ages and abilities swimming, playing soccer, netball, volleyball, skateboarding, cycling and more at a range of facilities from skate parks to netball courts, close to home.
And it’s not just participation that’s booming, local economies have been boosted with over 1,170 direct full-time jobs supported in the delivery of more than $538 million worth of infrastructure across Victoria.
A landmark report undertaken by KPMG for SRV in 2020 quantified the annual contribution of Victoria’s community sports infrastructure to the economy to be at least $7.04 billion.
Supporting the development of quality sport and recreation infrastructure is a key objective of Active Victoria 2022-2026 - A strategic framework for sport and active recreation in Victoria, which is encouraging and facilitating sport and active recreation participation for all.
Download your copy of the statement using the links below.