On Sunday it was my great pleasure to attend and assist in officially opening the new netball courts at the Pine Rivers United Sports Club, both as the member for Pine Rivers and representing the Minister for Sport, the Hon. Phil Reeves. The Bligh Labor government was delighted to provide just over $70,000 to the Pine Rivers United Sports Club to complete this important project in support of netball and futsal. The upgrade to the two courts will improve the club’s ability to deliver a range of sporting activities and competitions for the local community. I appreciated the opportunity to see the pictures of the two run-down bitumen courts, as they have been for the past six years, and to compare them with the bright blue rebound-ace covered courts, which are a dream to run on and look fabulous.

The Moreton Bay Regional Council provided over $70,000 in site preparation, drainage and retaining walls and in the final landscaping. The federal government also kicked in with $30,000. Our thanks go to Fiona McNamara, the Labor candidate for Dickson, for her ongoing work in obtaining this funding and her support for local clubs in the area.

She is a great person, a great local. The Pine Rivers United Sports Club has long held a vision for the upgrade of the netball courts and has worked hard to get the funding but, importantly, put in a large amount of its own fundraising dollars to complete the courts. This project was funded through the Minor Facilities Program and is an excellent example of the state, federal and local governments and sporting organisations working together to provide much needed infrastructure to meet community participation needs.

As a government, we are keen to encourage more Queenslanders of all ages to get involved in sport and recreation. That is why we have provided more than $4 million in funding in support of a variety of sport and recreation opportunities in the Pine Rivers area since 1998. This includes funding for participation initiatives, education and training, minor and major capital works and even some disaster assistance, as well as funding to help 89 young athletes attend state and national sporting championships.

The government has previously provided funding to construct a grandstand at the club for soccer and for the installation of field irrigation, lighting and shade structures. It was lovely to have Linda Lavarch at the opening as she has been a long-term supporter of Pine Rivers United Sports Club and was instrumental in assisting the club to receive funding.

I congratulate the outgoing secretary, Flora Bradley, for her strong support and organisational skills in continually moving the club forward. My congratulations also go to the president, the executive and all of the volunteers and supporters who have made the club the great venue it is today.
The Queensland government’s support for this project is part of its strong commitment to providing sport and recreation opportunities for all Queenslanders, from the grassroots level up to the elite level. We all know that playing sport and getting active is one of the best ways to improve our quality of life, both physically and socially. If people have good access to appropriate facilities in their local communities, it makes it easier for them to get involved in sport and recreation, which will help us meet our Toward Q2:

Tomorrow’s Queensland aim of making Queenslanders Australia’s healthiest people by reducing obesity by one-third by 2020. We can help achieve this goal by continuing to be a leader in sport and recreation in Queensland, and this is what the Bligh Labor government will do.