Netball Australia secures $2.6 million for new home

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Netball has once again made its mark on the Australian sporting landscape just 14 months after it was announced that it had won the rights to host the World Netball Championships 2015 in Sydney.

The Federal Minister for Sport and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, was in Melbourne on Sunday to announce that the Australian Government would make a significant financial investment of $2.6 million for a ‘Home for Netball’. 

The new ‘Home of Netball’ will bring together Netball Australia and the ANZ Championship’s Australian operations, the Australian Netball Players Association and the Asian Netball Federation secretariat, along with space dedicated to a comprehensive exhibition of Australian netball and its proud history.

This is the second major netball infrastructure announcement to be made in the space of 14 months with Netball NSW receiving $27 million from the NSW Government to build a state-of-the-art ‘Netball Centre of Excellence’ at Sydney Olympic Park – tell me more

Federal Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy believes the funding will ensure netball’s position for the future. 

"Netball is a great game that has a tremendously positive influence on those who play," Senator Lundy said.

"I'd like to see more people have the opportunity to play the game and I believe that the Home of Netball will consolidate the work of Netball Australia and ensure the future growth of the sport."

The President of the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA), The  Hon.  Molly Rhone, believes the funding will strengthen netball in Australia and the surrounding region.

“This is really important and exciting news and demonstrates the great support that the Australian Government is giving to the sport of netball in Australia as well as the entire Oceania region.

“The commitment of Government was a key factor in the selection of Sydney to host the World Netball Championships in 2015.”

A number of Melbourne locations are being considered for the new Home for Netball with a decision on the site expected before the end of 2012.