City of Parramatta’s Lord Mayor, Cr Pierre Esber, has recently stepped up to the plate to voice his concern about the lack of female-friendly sporting facilities in the area. This announcement comes as a part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to improve its 33 sportsgrounds and pavilions to cater to the needs of everyone, especially the growing population.
Cr Esber eloquently pointed out that access to decent sporting facilities is essential for both grassroots and elite levels of sport. The council aims for Parramatta to become a fertile training ground for future women’s national teams like the Matildas in football, the Diamonds in netball, and the Jillaroos in rugby league.
The City of Parramatta is not just making empty promises. They have already invested a whopping $12.5 million over the last decade for upgrading five major sportsground facilities. However, the Lord Mayor emphasises that they can’t handle the burden alone and urges for more involvement from state and federal governments.
Although the Federal Government recently announced a $200 million Play Our Way programme to boost women’s sports, the Lord Mayor feels that these funds might not be adequate. With more than 500 councils across the nation likely competing for a slice of the pie, the need for sustained investment from both State and Federal Governments is more critical than ever.
Cr Esber considers this a golden opportunity for all tiers of government to join hands and ensure that local sporting facilities are adequately equipped to support the surging interest in women’s sports. The Council will be actively campaigning for both the New South Wales and Australian Governments to expedite the upgrade of facilities to incorporate women-friendly features, additional lighting and other necessary elements.
The Council also approved the preparation of Sportsground Pavilion drawings and specifications. This move will serve as a strategic planning tool to assist local sporting clubs and groups as they continue to expand. Parramatta is projected to house more than 400,000 residents by 2041, making it even more crucial to secure proper sporting facilities for the burgeoning community.
In summary, the City of Parramatta is not merely content with the status quo. It is actively working to break down barriers for women in sports by investing in improved facilities. But the Council also recognises the limitations of acting in isolation. In a call to action that reverberates beyond Parramatta, Lord Mayor Cr Pierre Esber is urging the state and federal governments to pull their weight, to ensure a level playing field for everyone.
This appeal for co-operative investment in sports facilities marks a pivotal moment in the broader conversation about gender equality in sports. Will the state and federal governments take up the challenge or will they remain on the sidelines? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Parramatta is not waiting around; it’s sprinting ahead with or without them.
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#Parramatta's Lord Mayor, Cr Pierre Esber, calls for improved female-friendly sports facilities, emphasising the need for state & federal government support in this endeavour. 🏟️👩🦰🤝 #TheIndianSun #NSW #WomenEmpowermenthttps://t.co/4W9BOCOnaC
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