Canberrans will soon have additional tennis facilities, as the ACT Government constructs the Gungahlin Tennis Facility in Amaroo.
The new facility will include 10 full sized courts, two hot shots courts, a hitting wall, LED lighting, parking, and a pavilion.
Consultation on the design for the new facility is now open, and the public are encouraged to view the designs on the YourSay website until 19 August.
Over the next four years, the ACT government will also begin scoping works for upgrades to the Dickson and Manuka pools. This includes refurbishing the toddler pool at Manuka Pool for families to continue to enjoy in the summer months.
“COVID-19 disrupted many people’s abilities to get out and stay active,” said Yvette Berry, ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation. “These new facilities and upgrades will help encourage more people to get out there and participate in the sports they love.
“We went to ensure all children have the opportunity to play sport, which is so important for their physical and mental wellbeing.”
In addition, the ACT Government will provide $1.82 million over three years to support six local organisations, including the Physical Activity Foundation and Pegasus, to encourage more kids to get active and stay healthy.
The Physical Activity Foundation, an ACT charity that aims to reduce the incidence of sedentary lifestyle diseases in children, will use the funding to establish a ‘Physical Activity Cooperative’, supporting the government’s preventative health goals. The Foundation will design and test a program so that children who might not be able or be interested in regular community sport or activity programs can benefit from increased physical activity.
Every child, “not just the sporty ones”, should have at least an hour of physical activity every day, Lucille Ball, the Foundation’s CEO, explained.
“We believe there is little more important than the health of young children, assisting them to develop healthy lifestyles from an early age, and we know that everyone benefits when we have a healthy and physically active community.
“Physical activity can be as simple as going for a walk, riding your bike to and from school, bouncing a ball in the driveway, or taking the dog for a walk. We are lucky to live in a city with access to some terrific facilities and infrastructure.”
