Member for Wollongong Paul Scully MP has described the Berejiklian Government’s decision not to reverse Wollongong local government areas exclusion from both regional and metropolitan sports facility upgrade funds as the ultimate betrayal of sport in Wollongong.
While the Berejiklian Government is willing to splurge $2.2 billion on Sydney stadiums it refuses to reverse its decision to exclude Wollongong local government area from eligibility to apply for grants under both the $100 million Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund and the $100 million Greater Sydney Sports Facility Fund.
In response to a Question on Notice asked by the Member for Wollongong, the Minister for Sport confirmed that the eligibility criteria for future rounds of the program would not change to include sporting clubs in the Wollongong local government area.
The Minister for Sport’s decision not to amend the program guidelines for future grant rounds is confirmation that he and his Government have the wrong priorities when it comes to sport and the wrong priorities when it comes to Wollongong.
It’s time for Minister Ayres to stop acting like the Christmas Grinch and give sporting clubs in Wollongong a Christmas present by allowing them to apply for grants to upgrade their facilities.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“The Berejiklian Government wants sporting participants and sports fans in Wollongong to cop it splurging $2.2 billion on Sydney stadiums while cutting us out of its sports facility upgrade programs.
“This is the ultimate betrayal of sport in Wollongong.
“In an admission of twisted priorities, we are being told that we are not worthy of support from the Berejiklian Government but multi-billion sporting codes and clubs are.
“Wollongong residents have sadly come to expect a raw deal from the Berejiklian Government but this is an incredible snub to our community.
“The Minister for Sport knows he made a mistake when he excluded Wollongong – he should just admit it, amend the guidelines and give sports clubs in Wollongong a sporting chance at applying for a grant to upgrade their facilities.”
