State Coalition Supports Riverstone Project

The funding proposed by the Coalition is part of its ?spatial strategy? which aims to assist the development of sporting and community facilities in regional areas, aimed at maximising active participation in sport.  
?The facilities here [Valentine Sports Park] have served soccer/football well but it?s in need of an upgrade?, Barry O?Farrell said.
?That?s why, if elected, the coalition will contribute $5 million to Football NSW? project out at Riverstone.
?It?s all about improving the level of community and sporting activity as well as healthy lifestyles of people in regional areas.?
Football NSW? proposed Riverstone West project is due for completion in 2013. When completed the final precinct will include :

• 9 purpose built quality football pitches (with the ability to be developed to 15 football  pitches in future years)
• Indoor swimming pool complex
• Multi-purpose community indoor sporting centre including two international sized Futsal courts
• Other outdoor multi-sport facilities
• Advanced gymnasium
• Official Football NSW offices
• Club facilities and function centre
• Lecture theatre, education facilities and community meeting rooms
• Hotel accommodation, and
• A Football College (this will be the first private Football College in Australia)

Aside from the commercial considerations aimed at securing the development of football in NSW, Football NSW is creating a facility that is perfect to develop football and its growing talent pool in NSW. Moreover, the Riverstone project will also significantly impact the opportunity for employment within the area and provide a significant centre for community and sporting activity in Sydney?s North West. 
Football NSW President Jim Forrest was elated with the news of the Coalition?s support.
?Football NSW aims to develop a state of the art multipurpose sporting complex to help the code from grassroots to the elite level.
?The development of the Riverstone Football and Community Sporting Precinct is part of Football NSW? vision to create a world class football, sporting, educational, health and community precinct to cater for the development of the sport into the future.?
Football NSW looks forward to using the facility to address key regional community, health and social issues. This is the first step in promoting a regional strategy for development of playing facilities across NSW.
In addition to the coalition support, Football NSW? state of the art sporting facility will be funded by way of:

• $8 million in funding committed by the Federal Government
• Funds from Football NSW sale of its current facilities at Valentine Sports Park
• Football NSW cash contribution, and
• Contributions from various commercial partners

Football NSW appreciates the ongoing support of the State Coalition party in the development of football in NSW.