Sport is central to community life in Willoughby. I spend many weekends cheering on my kids in netball and physie and supporting local sporting teams. While skills and scores matter in sport, the real highlights are always the team spirit and fair play demonstrated by participants.
For our broader community, sporting matches provide a focal point for individuals and families to come together. With the operation of these clubs sustained largely by people who give up their free time, sport is one of the great outlets for volunteerism in our community.
In practical measures to foster the growth and flourishing of local sport in Willough-by, I have recently supported several community grant applications. These have included grants for the North Sydney Junior Baseball Association, the Northbridge and Castle Cove Golf Clubs, the Artarmon Maestros Cricket Club, the North Shore Bombers AFL Club and the renovation of the green at Willoughby Park Bowling Club.
I believe sporting clubs are the backbone of our community and it is my joy to help facilitate the funding for these clubs which helps support our broader community.
Despite these efforts to obtain more funding, it is unfortunate that the Minns Labor Government cannot be counted on for support. Since last year’s budget in September, the Gore Hill Indoor Sports Centre remains unfunded by the state as does the North Sydney Oval female-friendly facilities upgrade.
To ensure the vitality of our sporting clubs, we must invest time and resources into securing adequate green spaces for community use. With increasing pressure on existing areas and notable shortages in places like St Leonards and Crows Nest, I am advocating for more innovative sites like the public park over the railway corridor in St Leonards. We should explore similar solutions, such as constructing a green roof over the Warringah Freeway, to further expand our green space. I am committed to advocating for thoughtful and innovative investments in greenspaces throughout Willoughby.
I will continue to hold this government to account and work to ensure that our local sports clubs, facilities and green spaces receive the funding they need to help more of our people enjoy the physical, social and mental benefits of sports.
