Major announcement made by Anthony Albanese MP regarding the future of Henson Park

Anthony Albanese MP, the Federal Member for Grayndler,visited Henson Park on Saturday afternoon to make a major announcementregarding funding of special sports projects in the event of the election of aShorten Labor Government.

Mr Albanese announced to the crowd at theNewtown-North Sydney Canterbury Cup match that an incoming Labor Governmentwould invest $5 million to upgrade HensonPark, transforming itinto a multi-purpose sporting facility that would host Rugby League and AFLmatches.

The proposed upgrade to the home of the Newtown Jetswould be part of a unique ground-sharing arrangement that would be to thebenefit of both codes.

The upgrade would also provide for the upsurge ofinterest in women’s sport, with the project to include the construction offemale change rooms. This would enable Henson Parkto host the GWS women’s AFLW team, any future Sydney Swans women’s team, plusthe Cronulla Sharks NRL women’s team.

Mr Albanese said that in a national sportingenvironment where professional sport was increasingly dominated by elitenational competitions and impersonal giant stadiums, he believed strongly thaticonic suburban sporting facilities like Henson Parkshould continue to perform a vital role for our communities.

Many of these suburban grounds have special qualities– they encourage the participation in healthy physical activity by people ofall ages, and they enrich communities by bringing friends and neighbourstogether to support their local teams. As we all know, these qualities mostcertainly apply to the Newtown Jets and Henson Park.

The Jets in recent years have been successful inattracting big crowds to their home games by marketing themselves and theiratmospheric home ground to people who were looking for the experience of “oldschool” suburban rugby league.

Mr Albanese was accompanied to Henson Parkon Saturday by the Mayor of Inner West Council, Councillor Darcy Byrne. Both ofthese elected representatives noted that Newtown’ssuccess in staging live rugby league alongside a vibrant, pulsating annualcommunity festival has been virtually unique in Australian sporting circles.

Any future investment in Henson Parkwould focus on supporting community sporting infrastructure and wouldprioritise investment in facilities that would encourage greater femaleparticipation in sport, such as female-friendly change rooms.

Mr Albanese added that the $5 million commitment tothe Henson Park upgrade would be in addition to the$2 million already allocated to the project by the Inner West Council, theNewtown Jets and the AFL NSW/ACT.

Councillor Byrne added that the project would be awinner all round – for the two major football codes, for female participationin sport and for the entire community of inner-western Sydney.

The plan for the revitalisation of Henson Parkinclude: -

1. Upgrading the King George V Memorial Grandstand including change rooms, amenities, medical and refereeing facilities as well as spectator facilities and disability access.
2. Constructing two additional change rooms, community meeting rooms and a gymnasium.
3. Upgrading the broadcast boxes, coaches’ boxes and officials; facilities to facilitate the television broadcasting of games.
4. Renewing the electronic scoreboard and public address system.
5. Improved food and beverage facilities.
6. Rebuilding the playing surface including new drainage, irrigation, returfing and a goal post system allowing for the Rugby League and AFL codes.

This information has been provided for the benefit ofall members and supporters of the Newtown Rugby League Football Club.

Regards,

Barry Cotter

President

Newtown RLFC