David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to take this opportunity to express my support for Maitland City Council's plans to upgrade Larg's Park and Ernie Jurd Oval, in my electorate of Lyne. The council has been working with the community and user groups on a longer-term plan to improve and maximise opportunities for Larg's Park. While some of the smaller components of the improvement plan have already been undertaken, including resurfacing the multipurpose court, the community is keen to seen the multibillion dollar upgrade plan realised, with lighting, parking, new amenities, a grandstand, a skate park, drainage, playgrounds, fencing, pedestrian pathways and the extension of the playing fields to include two football fields.

In this year's budget, an additional $2,820,583 in federal funding, under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, has been made available to Maitland City Council, and I'm hopeful that some of these funds will be invested in implementing the master plan. I've also encouraged council to look at applying for funds under the upcoming round 5 of the Building Better Regions Fund to assist with bringing forward some of their regional projects. Congratulations, again, to council and the user groups of Larg's Park on developing this important master plan.

The bottom end of the Lyne electorate encompasses all of the beautiful northern banks of the mighty Hunter River, and Hunter economy is powering the New South Wales economy. It's an energy superpower. (Time expired)