Queanbeyan has a rich tradition of sporting excellence having produced sporting greats such as Brad Haddin, Ricky Stuart, Mark Webber, Heather McKay, David Campese and Suzanne Balogh to name a few.

We all know that sport is incredibly important for health and wellbeing, as well as bringing people in the community together.  Whether it’s fundraising for a footy trip, cooking the sausage sizzle alongside the game, or parents bracing cold mornings to get their kids to sport, members of our community always make a concerted effort to get involved.

Queanbeyan locals show time and time again that community always comes first. A large part of what keeps us connected is the recreational activities we are able to enjoy together.

That’s why I am proud to be part of a government that actively supports regional communities and is injecting funds where they’re needed most – at grassroots levels.

Recently we have invested record levels of funding for sports projects across Queanbeyan.

Of note is $450,000 for lights at Allinsure Park Queanbeyan. Tigers Football Club players will enjoy extended training and playing hours thanks to a much needed lighting upgrade.

A new dog park in Googong will be made possible through a $125,000 NSW Government investment.

At Freebody Oval, $20,000 will be spent on an electronic scoreboard, and $150,000 will be used to construct three new Hot Shot courts for the Jerrabomberra Tennis Club. The new courts will help the club expand its kids program.

The Jerrabomberra Tennis Club along with the Queanbeyan Netball Association has been awarded funding for life saving defibrillators. Over 430 defibrillators have been allocated to sports clubs state wide as part of the NSW Government’s 2018 Local Sport Defibrillator Program.

Up and coming rugby league stars are set to benefit for the $19 million Southern NSW Rugby League Centre of Excellence. The facility, to be located in Canberra, will provide access to high level coaching, training and mentoring.

$650,000 has been announced to build a state of the art building at the High Street playing fields in Queanbeyan. This means that local football clubs will no longer need to rely on tents, marquees or shopping containers for basic amenities. Work will include change rooms, toilets, canteen, meeting rooms and storage space for all sports clubs that use the fields.

You may have already enjoyed the new water playground at the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre, funded through a $450,000 grant from the NSW Government, and recently I was proud to announce $1.16 million for the Queanbeyan River Walk. Until now, it has not been possible to loop the river without crossing roads. These funds will construct a shared pathway and bridge over the river to link Queen Elizabeth Park and create a beautiful walking path for residents to enjoy. The project will ensure the community has safe access along the river corridor and is able to enjoy what has been described as “the heart of Queanbeyan”.

I encourage you to get outside and make the most of the new and upgraded facilities on offer. As always, if you identify a community asset that requires attention, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me.