Securing Tasmania’s Future by Kicking Goals with Upgraded Football Facilities

A MAJORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WILL:

  • Invest $10 million into key Football facility upgrades across the State, to deliver better facilities for players, spectators and increase participation in community sport
  • Help Tasmania’s push to host base camps for international sides during the Women’s World Cup in 2023

Football is the highest participation sport in the State, with over 38,000 people playing, and participation is increasing.

The proportion of female registered players in Tasmania is the highest in the nation, with the WSL (Women’s State-wide League) beginning this year and making the competition truly State-wide.

Football in Tasmania is played right across Tasmania, with associations, clubs and competitions in Burnie, Somerset, Ulverstone, Devonport, Launceston, together with the Greater Hobart region.

Football plays an important role within the Tasmanian community, bringing people together, shaping local communities, and playing a vital role in promoting the benefits of good health and exercise.

Research shows that Football provides an annual community economic benefit of $28.3 million to our State.

The Tasmanian Liberals are proud supporters of Football in Tasmania, supporting development through its partnership with Football Federation Tasmania.

As Tasmania’s interest in football continues to grow, so too does the demand on our community facilities and infrastructure.

The continued success of football and the 131 community-based clubs including 1120 teams, rely on the sport having access to good facilities, including pitches, lighting and changerooms.

A re-elected Liberal Majority Government will invest $10 million for Football facility upgrades at four locations across Tasmania

Our investment in upgrading facilities will create significant opportunities to develop our local talent, while creating jobs and providing significant economic benefits to Tasmania.

Importantly, it will also help Tasmania’s push to host base camps for international sides during the Women’s World Cup in 2023, further helping to showcase Tasmania and inspiring women and girls to play the World Game.

The facilities to benefit from this investment include:

  • Valley Road, Devonport - the home club of the Devonport Strikers and 170 registered players.Additional funding will deliver a new building, additional pitch, new changerooms and lighting.
  • Birch Avenue, Launceston – the home of Launceston United, with 633 registered players and one of the largest clubs in the State.New funding will deliver improved drainage, safety fencing and new and enhanced lighting.
  • Churchill Park, Launceston – the home of the Northern Tasmanian Junior Soccer Association, with 1878 registered players.Churchill Park hosts the annual Launceston Tournament, which draws 1000 junior players to the facility from around the State.Funding will deliver new lighting, new changeroom and clubrooms.
  • Lightwood Park, Kingborough – home to the Kingborough Lions and 552 registered players, the largest club in southern Tasmania.Additional funding will deliver new changerooms and clubrooms.

Current work underway right now:

  • Additional $300,000 over two years in 2020 to Football Tasmania to increase growth and boost the profile of women and girls participating in football.
  • $480,000 across two years towards Western United Football Club hosting matches at UTAS Stadium in Launceston, which will also include junior football clinics and youth camps attended by the WUFC and Calder United players and coaches.
  • Ongoing discussions with Football Federation Tasmania to establish an A-League team in Tasmania.

Our record in Government:

  • $1.2 million to Football Federation Tasmania to support grassroots football development and its Talent Support programs for men and women.
  • $150,000 to Football Tasmania through the COVID-19 Sport and Recreation Grants Program Tranche One to assist with ongoing operations.
  • $58,696 to 27 football clubs across Tasmania through the second tranche of the COVID-19 Sport and Recreation Grants Program.
  • In 2018, $700,000 to a number of football clubs across the State under the Levelling the Playing Field Program (which upgrades changerooms and facilities for women and girls).
    • $400,000 towards new pitches at Churchill Park in Launceston
    • $240,000 to the Taroona Football Club to build a new clubroom and improve facilities for its growing number of female participants.
    • $500,000 to Olympia Football Club Warriors to develop female friendly change rooms at Warrior Park in Warrane.
    • $500,000 to Glenorchy Council for infrastructure upgrade at King George V.
    • $450,000 to the City of Hobart to upgrade changerooms at Clare Street Oval.
    • $452,437 to Devonport City Council to upgrade facilities at Meercroft Park.
    • $300,000 to Kingborough Lions United Football Club for female changerooms at Lightwood Park.

Costings:

$10 million