Libs add to sporting upgrade fund pledge

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam has committed $2 million towards upgrading Capes sporting facilities if the Liberals win the State election next month. The Busselton Magpies Football Club and the Busselton Basketball Association would receive $1 million each under the pledge, adding to the Liberals’ existing pledge to increase the Community Sports and Recreation Facilities Fund to $20 million each year. Ms Mettam said upgrading change rooms to accommodate women’s football and providing more space for the city’s mass of basketball players were high priorities. “The allocation of funding will enable the Busselton Basketball Association to partner with the City of Busselton to assist in meeting the significant demand for courts across their 1600 person membership,” the deputy leader said. Busselton Football and Sportsman’s club treasurer Shontelle Bowman praised Ms Mettam for her ongoing support for the Magpies and said the funding would be “huge”. “It would mean equality in the changerooms for both the women and the men,” Ms Bowman said. “Libby has been an amazing supporter of the club. We’re lucky to have someone like her backing us.” The pledge comes just months after the Dunsborough Lakes Sports Precinct was set to become reality with $750,000 committed by the CSRFF. The hub will include four rectangle fields, two cricket fields and four multi-purpose outdoor courts in stage one, significantly bolstering the current inadequate sporting facilities. Ms Mettam said working with the City of Busselton towards bigger aquatic facilities was also an important step if elected. “While the South West region is one of the fastest growing populations in Australia, many of our sporting facilities are simply not able to meet the ever increasing demand,” she said. “At a time when governments are actively encouraging kids to get off the screens and enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle, it simply isn’t good enough to then turn them away because there aren’t enough facilities.” The commitment brings the Liberal Party $7m higher than Labor in their pledge to the CSRFF and Ms Mettam said they would continue to ensure the district’s growing sporting needs were supported.