My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Local Government, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide me with an update on the delivery of the Hume Tennis and Community Centre play space upgrade. This project is being supported by the government’s Growing Suburbs Fund and will provide a great new play area that young people of all abilities and ages can enjoy. More than $13.7 million has been invested into the Hume municipality for 11 projects through the first three rounds of the Growing Suburbs Fund, including the Arena Recreation Reserve pavilion that I had the pleasure of touring with the minister last month. This new play space will also be a welcome new addition to the Craigieburn community, and I look forward to hearing from the minister regarding its delivery.

I would also like to thank my work experience student, Tahlia Freeman-Morton, for preparing this adjournment matter for me. It was a pleasure to have her in the office.

Response:

I thank the Member for Yuroke, Ms Ros Spence for her question and for her strong advocacy for the Growing Suburbs Fund and its benefits for her constituents.

I also thank the Member for Yuroke for recently opening the Arena Recreation Pavilion Development funded under the 2017-2018 Growing Suburbs Fund and delivered by Hume City Council.

The Andrews Labor Government has invested $200 million through the Growing Suburbs Fund towards ensuring residents in Melbourne’s diverse and fast-growing interface areas have access to facilities which help maintain community well-being.

Council contributions, along with the contributions of third parties, have leveraged a combined project investment of $520 million. Since its establishment in 2015, the fund has supported 161 projects, 79 of which are now open to the public.

This fund has brought forward many community infrastructure priorities, such as local parks, playground, community centres and sporting facilities, as well as creating more than 5,000 jobs in the construction and operation of these projects.

The 2019-20 State Budget allocated a further $50 million towards the Growing Suburbs Fund so that even more projects can be rolled out to growing communities.

The Hume Tennis and Community Centre, which was funded under the Growing Suburbs Fund in 2018-19, will provide a new community playspace and picnic area for the centre. This project is on track to commence construction towards the end of this year and is anticipated to be completed by mid-2020.

The centre’s wide range of programs and tournaments will attract participants from across Victoria. This funding will make an important contribution towards the participants and their families experience at the centre, as well as providing a local playspace for the nearby Craigieburn community.

The Hon Adem Somyurek MP
Minister for Local Government