Released 04/06/2018
A Rugby League Centre of Excellence and Community Hub will soon be built in the heart of Canberra thanks to a joint funding initiative between the ACT and NSW Governments and the Canberra District Rugby League.
The ACT Government will provide $5 million in funding over three years, the NSW Government will provide $4 million and the Canberra District Rugby League will fund the rest.
“This is another important ACT Government investment in Canberra’s growing and diversifying economy,” said ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation, Yvette Berry.
“Providing a state of the art headquarters for one of Canberra’s elite sporting teams, combined with new community facilities in the heart of the city will enhance the area and provide new opportunities for Canberrans of all ages and abilities to get involved with the sport.
“In addition to this facility supporting rugby league programs in the ACT, it will also support the surrounding NSW region. This project provides an excellent example of what can be achieved when governments work together.”
NSW Minister for Regional Development John Barilaro, joined Minister Berry in Braddon for the announcement and said the facility would benefit hundreds of young rugby league players and fans in both southern NSW and the ACT.
“It will provide borderless access to high level coaching, training and mentoring support, as well as additional NRL competition and trial games in regional NSW towns,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Everyone from under 6’s through to adults will have access to carnivals, clinics and training camps and elite game development opportunities - further benefitting the health and well-being of our regional communities.
“Additional competition and trial games will be held in Wagga Wagga, Bega and Queanbeyan, helping to revitalise the link between high performance sport and community engagement.”
Minister Berry said several community partner programs would be run from the facility, such as Alan Tongue mentoring and team building programs, Canberra District Rugby League’s School to Work program and youth programs run by Menslink and the PCYC.
“The upgraded facility will also provide a permanent high performance training venue for the Canberra Raiders with an upgrade to the oval and a new building which will include a gym, medical and sports science facilities, new change rooms, office spaces and meeting rooms,” she said.
“We want to make sure the Canberra Raiders continue to be competitive in the NRL and we believe a high performance training facility will help attract and retain elite players.”
Construction is set to begin in in the coming months with the facility to be up and running by the end of 2019.
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases
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