Fund Illawarra Sports Stadium’s proposal for a $21 million stadium redevelopment project
Petitioner:
Mr Ian Richardson
| Member:
Scully, Paul
| No. of Signatories:
102
| Date closed:
19/08/2021
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
Illawarra Sports Stadium (ISS) is in great need of infrastructure upgrades!
a. Since 1992, ISS has provided vital sport & recreational facilities that have now aged and can no longer adequately serve the community. ISS is located in Berkeley; among the top 10% most disadvantaged Australian communities.
b. Over 40 groups use the ISS each year. Basketball, Netball and Table Tennis are regular users with numerous Dance organisations also seeking to adopt the facility as their home. All 4 activities, particularly Netball and Dance, have a high female participation rate which cannot grow due to limited court capacity – 2 of every 3 ISS booking requests are rejected.
c. ISS is seeking to provide 3 additional courts, a home for Illawarra Netball, seating for 2,100 spectators and a gymnasium.
d. Wollongong City Council is considering a full Development Application and Business Case which demonstrates the viability of the project and how it:
(i) Ameliorates safety risks associated with continued aging of the existing ISS building,
(ii) Enables sports organisations to pursue their expansion plans and boost female sports participation,
(iii) Creates an estimated 500 full-time equivalent jobs,
(iv) Improves social capital in the disadvantaged community of Berkeley,
(v) Addresses the growing needs of thousands of new residents moving into the housing developments southwest of Wollongong.
The undersigned petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to provide $21M for ISS to undertake this stadium redevelopment project. Upon DA approval the project is shovel ready.
