Tuesday, 20 September 2022

 Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (17:44): (2125) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Community Sport in the other place, and the action I seek is for the government to urgently fund the reconstruction of RecWest in West Footscray. I have spoken before about the shocking state of this facility. RecWest is falling apart. It was built in 1953 and a new wing was added in 1970. That is more than 50 years ago, and it desperately needs rebuilding. A master plan has been completed and the community has been consulted. The new RecWest leisure centre and sporting precinct is a shovel-ready stimulus project that will have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the Maribyrnong community, which is predicted to have a 68 per cent population increase by 2040. The new facilities include a gym, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, an oval, parkland and a playground and will complement the state government’s investment at Footscray High School’s Barkly Street campus with open space and facilities being available to approximately 1600 students. The facilities are home to local community sporting clubs, including the VFL Roosters, the Druids Cricket Club and West Footscray sporting clubs. It offers multicultural activities, a range of indoor sport and fitness programs, mothers groups, social functions and much, much more.

The $25 million redevelopment will result in the creation of 85 jobs, $75 million of economic activity and a reduction in the $500 million annual cost of physical inactivity. Three years ago I asked the Premier to fund this facility and his response was for the council to obtain a loan through the community sports infrastructure loans scheme. Local councils are stretched to the limit. They do their best to maintain community infrastructure as well as build new infrastructure to cater for their growing communities. They operate under a rate cap, limiting their ability to raise revenue. They, unlike this government, try to be fiscally responsible and limit their debt. The community urgently needs this centre. Without the government funding it as an election promise, it will not be built for years. West Footscray deserves this, Footscray deserves this and the area around the Footscray Hospital precinct deserves this—if you are going to go down the path of housing rather than mental health facilities.