Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe (left) and multicultural spokesperson Elizabeth Kikkert (right) have promised a new multicultural centre in Gungahlin if elected. Photo: Dominic Giannini.
The Canberra Liberals will allocate nearly $20 million for a new indoor sporting complex as well as a multicultural and community centre in Gungahlin if they are elected in October.
The $12.7 million sports facility will have six indoor basketball courts, a large multipurpose space and will be able to host a variety of other sporting codes including tennis, badminton, table tennis, martial arts and dance groups.
The $7 million multicultural centre will have a 1,500 person capacity and commercial kitchens to self-cater events.
The community centre will prioritise low-cost bookings for struggling community groups, and be located next to a public transport hub, Liberals leader Alistair Coe said.
“Gungahlin is a vibrant community, rich in cultural diversity,” Mr Coe said.
“We want to give people a space for cultural expression and celebration. There are currently no facilities in Canberra that offer an affordable venue for large multicultural events.”
Liberal spokeswoman for Multicultural Affairs Elizabeth Kikkert said demand for multicultural buildings was increasing due to the price barrier inhibiting community groups from hiring larger venues like EPIC.
“The overwhelming majority of community leaders have told us that venue size is one of the biggest challenges they face when planning for multicultural events,” Mrs Kikkert said.
“Of course, food is a significant part of cultural expression and that’s why it’s so important that this new multicultural and community centre has commercial kitchens.”
James Milligan (left) says a new sports centre in Gungahlin is long overdue. Photo: Region Media.
Liberal spokesperson for sport and recreation James Milligan said a sports complex in Gungahlin was overdue.
“The Canberra Liberals want to make the ACT the amateur sports capital of Australia,” Mr Milligan.
“There is growing demand in the Gungahlin community for a variety of amateur sport codes. We are really excited to give these budding sporting communities a new home.
“For years, Labor has promised they would build an indoor sports centre in Gungahlin but they have never delivered.”
The Liberals have previously promised to give kids a $200 voucher to make extra-curricular activities more affordable and construct a new $12.3 million indoor sports facility in Tuggeranong.
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