Assistance to sports facilities in Port Macquarie to the sum of $1.8 million has been delivered in the Federal Budget.
The resurfacing of the Port Macquarie Hockey Association’s field was included in this year’s Budget, through a $320,000 allocation that would wipe their debt to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
Further funding of $1.5 million will be used to progress the Koala Street sports complex through the next stage of development, which includes a bigger carpark, combined AFL oval/cricket oval, an all-weather athletics track and further improvements to the hockey complex.
Independent Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott said, “The federal budget allocation is great news for thousands of youngsters and adults involved in local sports, which often have to compete for the Hastings’ limited facilities,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“But it’s also a huge relief for the hockey association, and more than 500 local hockey players, forced into borrowing a significant amount of money when their hockey field, a key part of the developing Koala Street sports precinct, was damaged by heavy rain late last year.
“This clears their debt to the council and, along with the funding boost to Wayne Richards Park, frees up limited council resources for other much-needed works — a benefit to all ratepayers,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“Wayne Richards Park is already heavily used by many sports. It’s time to progress the development of the facility to the next stage, which includes relocating the council depot to another site, while at the same time helping out the hockey association as it plans to cater to the needs of an ever-growing number of players,” Mr Oakeshott said.
