The State Government’s announcement in the 2017/2018 State budget of a $1 million commitment to the detailed planning of the State Netball Hockey Centre (SNHC) redevelopment has been welcomed by the peak bodies for Netball and Hockey in Victoria.
The SNHC, located in Parkville, is a vital headquarters for both sports, with the Centre hosting over 500,000 participants and spectators for training, competition and events each year. 80% of SNHC users are female.
Netball Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Rosie King said that it has long been recognised that ever increasing demand for use of the SNHC’s ageing facilities necessitated significant renovation and expansion.
“With the 2017 season in full swing, our sport has never enjoyed greater popularity and participation at every level from junior to elite competition. In order to serve this participation growth and compete with other states, Victoria must have great netball facilities and the SNHC is the heartbeat of our sport on this State.
“We are delighted with this announcement by the Minister for Sport The Hon John Eren MP, which is an endorsement of our joint vision and an exciting step toward delivering the many wonderful benefits of a transformed and revitalised home for netball in Victoria,” King said.
Hockey Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Skillern said that the organisation applauded the Government’s clear understanding of the importance of a redeveloped SNHC to women’s sport, the Victorian community and, more specifically, the Victorian hockey community.
“We appreciate the Government’s confidence in the project, which responds to the demonstrated need for a SNHC that will serve the continued growth of Victoria’s strongest participation sports for girls and women.
“The funding commitment will underpin our formal partnership with the State Government and Netball Victoria and we look forward to progressing the project to a ‘shovel-ready’ position by this time next year,” Skillern said.
