Community credited with funding agreement sign-off
Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch has attributed the signing of a $8.25 million funding agreement for Umina recreation precinct upgrades to community pressure.
She said that local sporting clubs had contacted her concerned that the 2019 federal election funding promise would never become a reality.
She said that, together with Labor candidate for Robertson, Dr. Gordon Reid, she started a petition which gained hundreds of signatures and she wrote to Member for Robertson Ms Lucy Wicks and Prime Minister Mr Scott Morrison.
In October, Ms Tesch and Dr Reid joined representatives from the Southern Spirit Cricket Club, Umina United Soccer Club and the Umina Tennis Club sporting at Umina Oval to add further pressure.
"I want to thank the sporting clubs who joined us in this campaign and all of the community members who signed our petition - without this community pressure this commitment may not have been possible" said Ms Tesch.
Ms Tesch is grateful the commitment is becoming a reality.
"I am glad this commitment has been signed and hasn't ended up on the long laundry list of empty promises from Scott Morrison like the commuter car parks in Woy Woy and Gosford.
"I can't wait to see the new sports clubs up and running.
"I know so many of them have been rundown and need urgent revamping"
Dr Reid also welcomed the announcement: "This long awaited announcement is welcomed by all the local sporting clubs and community groups who have been counting on this funding to get the long awaited upgrades underway"
The project will involve a complete redevelopment of the Umina skate park, a BMX track, a new football clubhouse for Umina United, and a community integrated facility for the cricket, rugby league and Umina Tennis clubs.
SOURCE:
Media release, 24 Nov 2021
Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford