School ovals, courts and halls will be opened up for local sporting and recreation use as part of a $24 million program to provide Queensland kids with better sporting facilities.
Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni said that Queensland’s first ever 10-year sport and recreation strategy, Activate! Queensland would unlock the gate for those who may not have been able to get playing.
“We’re going to break down one of the biggest barriers to getting active through the opt-in $12 million Community Use of Schools program which will commence upgrades of school facilities for participating schools and clubs.”
Member for Woodridge Cameron Dick said he was pleased Browns Plains State High School would be partnering with Browns Plains Mets Rugby Union Club and in one of the first four pilots in Queensland.
“There is clear evidence that involvement in sport provides more positive avenues for our young people,” Mr Dick said.
“Opening up the sporting and rec facilities at Browns Plains State High School will extend the reach of the state’s infrastructure investment to benefit more people in our community.
“For some kids, there are significant barriers that make getting active quite challenging. That’s why this announcement is so important.
“It will give Queensland sporting clubs, and the Queenslanders who are part of these clubs, more access to better facilities, which is a result we can all cheer for.”
Mr de Brenni said that Shailer Park State high School would also work with the Logan Thunder Basketball Association to maximise the use of updated facilities.
Other pilot partnerships include Atherton State High School and Atherton Netball Association, and Balmoral State High School is working with Southside Eagles Football Club.
Education Minister Grace Grace said the government would employ 40 school and community coordinators to help make the community use of schools work effectively.
“These coordinators will reduce the burden on the school system by coordinating the use of school facilities by community organisations, in consultation with principals and P&Cs,” Ms Grace said.
“We have some world-class sporting facilities at our Queensland schools so it’s great that other groups in the community will be able to make use of them.”
Minister de Brenni said that future Palaszczuk Government sport and recreation facilities would be built and designed into all new schools in Queensland, facilitating the co-location of clubs and school so everyone can get active.
Schools will be able to opt in to the retrofit program and coordinators will work with communities to identify and prioritise infrastructure investment in schools.
These initiatives form part of Activate! Queensland, a $1.3 billion, 10-year strategy to further enrich the Queensland way of life; harnessing the pride of our great sporting traditions, embracing our iconic natural environment and building on our strong community foundations.
