Mr McADAM - 2004-02-25
Next month, Alice Springs will play host to its first AFL Cup challenge match at Traeger Park. Can you please advise the House on preparations and resources allocated to the upgrade of Traeger Park instrumental to this match taking place?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the most sensible question from the member for Barkly, given that there are not many being asked today. As I have previously informed the House, the government made an election commitment of $5m to upgrade facilities at Traeger Park. This commitment has been facilitated in partnership with the Alice Springs Town Council, who have developed a comprehensive master plan as the blueprint for development of the park. A project control group was put together to ensure that interests of all stakeholders were represented during the upgrade.
Two major steps have already been taken to fulfil this promise. In 2002-03 financial year, $800 000 was well spent on stage 1, the upgrade of hockey facilities, attracting at least two national matches since that time. I am also informed that the Northern Territory Primary School Hockey Championships will be held at Traeger Park in May this year, a great venue for Territory hockey and tournament organisers, School Sport. This was followed up in the current financial year with a $2.5m commitment to upgrade the high voltage infrastructure, install lighting to the main oval and commence work on improvements to spectator facilities. These works will not only increase the lighting level for day and night play, but will enable television coverage. The electrical contracts were let late last year to PRA Electrical, a local Territory-based company. I am advised the floodlighting upgrade project is well advanced.
The balance of this financial year’s commitment will see work carried out on stage 1 of the grandstand upgrade. The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment are, I believe, consulting on the design as we speak, again, in partnership with the Alice Springs Town Council. The towers have been erected and testing of the lights has commenced. Many residents will have seen them lit up here and there over the last couple of weeks. Completion is expected by the end of the month.
The Alice Springs Town Council will be hosting its annual Sportsfest at Traeger Park next week for all users of the ground. Many residents are expected to be there. I have accepted the kind invitation from the Mayor, Ms Fran Kilgariff, to officially turn on the lights that night. More importantly, the lights will be ready for the forthcoming 4 March AFL Challenge football match. Of course, this is not the first AFL game to be held in Alice Springs, with a great game being played in 1997 between the Adelaide Crows and the Bombers. Central Australians voted with their feet on this occasion, with approximately half the population of Alice Springs attending. This support has been a major stimulus for government to support them in return and provide them with a facility capable of hosting such games on a regular basis. The upcoming pre-season AFL-sanctioned game is a reality only because of the commitment of this government to improve major sporting facilities for all Territorians throughout the Territory.
As I previously informed the House, the AFL has demonstrated great faith in the Northern Territory by entering into a three year agreement, which has seen top level AFL football become an annual fixture in Central Australia. This is a fantastic start to 2004 for Central Australian sports fans. Of course, improved facilities will be of continued benefit to such events as this weekend’s Imparja Cricket Cup and the Masters Games.
The Imparja Cup has come a long way from an original concept game of Alice Springs versus Tennant Creek in 1994. This year, the competition will boast 28 teams, which will travel from every state and territory to compete in two divisions. In addition, this year will also see the introduction of a women’s and schoolboy’s competition. This number easily surpasses the 17 teams which played last year. I am looking forward to attending the Imparja Cup this weekend.
This is an achievement that the Martin Labor government is proud of and will reap both economic and social benefits for the Territory and Territorians over many years to come.
Madam SPEAKER: And, of course, minister, you will invite the best in the AFL, surely, won’t you – the Demons?
Mr AH KIT: We are working on it, Madam Speaker.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the most sensible question from the member for Barkly, given that there are not many being asked today. As I have previously informed the House, the government made an election commitment of $5m to upgrade facilities at Traeger Park. This commitment has been facilitated in partnership with the Alice Springs Town Council, who have developed a comprehensive master plan as the blueprint for development of the park. A project control group was put together to ensure that interests of all stakeholders were represented during the upgrade.
Two major steps have already been taken to fulfil this promise. In 2002-03 financial year, $800 000 was well spent on stage 1, the upgrade of hockey facilities, attracting at least two national matches since that time. I am also informed that the Northern Territory Primary School Hockey Championships will be held at Traeger Park in May this year, a great venue for Territory hockey and tournament organisers, School Sport. This was followed up in the current financial year with a $2.5m commitment to upgrade the high voltage infrastructure, install lighting to the main oval and commence work on improvements to spectator facilities. These works will not only increase the lighting level for day and night play, but will enable television coverage. The electrical contracts were let late last year to PRA Electrical, a local Territory-based company. I am advised the floodlighting upgrade project is well advanced.
The balance of this financial year’s commitment will see work carried out on stage 1 of the grandstand upgrade. The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment are, I believe, consulting on the design as we speak, again, in partnership with the Alice Springs Town Council. The towers have been erected and testing of the lights has commenced. Many residents will have seen them lit up here and there over the last couple of weeks. Completion is expected by the end of the month.
The Alice Springs Town Council will be hosting its annual Sportsfest at Traeger Park next week for all users of the ground. Many residents are expected to be there. I have accepted the kind invitation from the Mayor, Ms Fran Kilgariff, to officially turn on the lights that night. More importantly, the lights will be ready for the forthcoming 4 March AFL Challenge football match. Of course, this is not the first AFL game to be held in Alice Springs, with a great game being played in 1997 between the Adelaide Crows and the Bombers. Central Australians voted with their feet on this occasion, with approximately half the population of Alice Springs attending. This support has been a major stimulus for government to support them in return and provide them with a facility capable of hosting such games on a regular basis. The upcoming pre-season AFL-sanctioned game is a reality only because of the commitment of this government to improve major sporting facilities for all Territorians throughout the Territory.
As I previously informed the House, the AFL has demonstrated great faith in the Northern Territory by entering into a three year agreement, which has seen top level AFL football become an annual fixture in Central Australia. This is a fantastic start to 2004 for Central Australian sports fans. Of course, improved facilities will be of continued benefit to such events as this weekend’s Imparja Cricket Cup and the Masters Games.
The Imparja Cup has come a long way from an original concept game of Alice Springs versus Tennant Creek in 1994. This year, the competition will boast 28 teams, which will travel from every state and territory to compete in two divisions. In addition, this year will also see the introduction of a women’s and schoolboy’s competition. This number easily surpasses the 17 teams which played last year. I am looking forward to attending the Imparja Cup this weekend.
This is an achievement that the Martin Labor government is proud of and will reap both economic and social benefits for the Territory and Territorians over many years to come.
Madam SPEAKER: And, of course, minister, you will invite the best in the AFL, surely, won’t you – the Demons?
Mr AH KIT: We are working on it, Madam Speaker.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016