Final payment in share of cost of Belmont Sports Club extensions

17/3/96

The State Government has presented the final payment of its share of the cost of $420,000 extensions to the Belmont Sports and Recreation Club.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore said the a cheque for $105,000 was the last part of a $140,000 State Government commitment to the upgrading of the community recreation centre in Abernethy Road, Cloverdale.

As part of the upgrade, the club now had a new lounge, committee rooms, kitchen and verandahs.

Mr Moore said the enlarged centre would better cater for lawn-bowls enthusiasts, following on from the rationalisation of the Belmont Park and Cloverdale bowling clubs to form the Belmont City Bowling Club.

"It will also be a wonderful facility for a host of other sports and community activities and will improve family sport and recreation opportunities in the area," he said.

The Minister said the project dovetailed neatly with the City of Belmont's policy of developing multi-use facilities in its locality, with the aim of encouraging wide community access and participation.

He congratulated the local council for a thorough and professional approach to the planning of the facility.

He said the grants were part of the $8 million Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF) that had been distributed throughout the State.

The CSRFF was designed to ensure that Western Australia maintained high quality sporting and recreation facilities and enhanced their accessibility and affordability to the community.

Mr Moore said an independent committee had been considering submissions covering 300 projects - from Kununurra in the north to Albany in the south - for seven months. The total value of the projects involved was $80 million.

The projects seeking assistance ranged from large indoor sport and recreation centres down to small clubs. The criteria used to grant the funding included economic viability, community need and consultation.

The CSRFF system was a tremendous way for the State Government to help communities develop.

"The fund is an important part of the Coalition's sport and recreation policy, which aims to increase the overall level of funding and usage of such facilities," Mr Moore said.

"The CSRFF can provide up to one third of the capital cost of a project provided all conditions are met.

"The increase in funding is proof that the State Government is committed to providing sport and recreational facilities for all Western Australians."

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 321 1444