A re-elected Liberal Government would deliver $200,000 as part of a much-needed refurbishment of Tuggeranong’s Southern Cross Stadium, Liberal Senator for the ACT, Zed Seselja announced. The funding will be matched by the Canberra Southern Cross Club.

The five-court stadium is used by community teams, including 572 junior teams, 175 senior social teams, and premier teams in the ACT, and has not been refurbished since it opened in 1997.

The funding will see a full refurbishment of stadium floors including sanding and refinishing, new backboards, scoreboard upgrades, repairs to the bathrooms and facilities, lighting upgrades, painting, and some new mini-stands.

Senator Seselja said the ACT Government had overlooked community basketball facilities for too long, and now the Federal Liberal Government was stepping up.

“With thousands of players and their parents out on the courts each weekend, these upgrades will mean a better experience for the whole community,” Senator Seselja said.

Ian Mackay, Canberra Southern Cross Club CEO, said this funding would foster the thousands of young aspiring athletes who play on the courts each weekend.

“The Club is delighted to receive the commitment to this much needed funding support,” Mr Mackay said. “The Southern Cross Stadium is run on a community model where no profit is made from the operation of the Stadium.

“Through COVID, it has been impossible to find the funds to keep the stadium to a standard our community can be proud of. This support will be a huge boost to the thousands of kids and adults who play in the Stadium each week. We appreciate the support of Zed Seselja in recognising our need here in the Tuggeranong Valley.”

“The Liberal Government’s strong economic management is what allows us to invest in projects like this that deliver the sport infrastructure for Canberrans,” Senator Seselja said.

“Only our government has a plan to keep our economy strong and secure the future of the Australian Capital Territory.”