THE Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale will undergo a major expansion and be transformed into a world-class facility due to a $10 million funding injection from the Federal government.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce will be at the sports centre on Monday morning and will join Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser in announcing that the long-planned upgrades to the site will become a reality. The government say the funding through the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) will help transform the venue into a "world-class facility that better supports local athletes, attracts more events and creates new jobs and economic opportunities in the region". The upgrade will include a new 4500m2 multi-storey building with meeting and function rooms.
Other upgrades include improvements to the athletics track to secure tier-one status and improved site access and safety, including more parking and a new signalised pedestrian crossing.
The construction phase of the project will create around 100 new jobs and, once complete, the Hunter Sports Centre will attract an expected 260,000 visitors a year - up from 180,000 currently - with flow-on benefits set to generate more than $16 million in local economic activity.
Mr Joyce said the government's investment would benefit the entire region, helping local athletes to achieve their dreams on the track while delivering an economic boost off it.
"Our government is committed to delivering the projects local communities need to get ahead," Mr Joyce said. "Funding the infrastructure and services that regional towns need for the future will help them rebound strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic. "This investment in the Hunter Sports Centre will create jobs while ensuring the facility continues to attract major events and visitors into the future, which will help drive the economic growth of this region. "It's also about ensuring local athletes have the facilities they need to train and grow into future champions. This funding will deliver the upgrades and facilities athletes need to achieve their dreams. "We are very proud to partner with Lake Macquarie City Council to bring this important project to life."
Lake Macquarie City Council Mayor Kay Fraser welcomed the government's funding commitment.
"This is exciting news for our city that will bring more major events to Lake Macquarie and our region and provide state-of-the-art facilities for the benefit of our community," Mayor Fraser said. "Through this partnership with the federal government, council will deliver a multi-purpose, world-class sporting facility supporting a diverse range of activities."