We Need Spaces To Play
Our greatest ever Socceroo, Tim Cahill, has just played a starring role in Australia’s triumphant Asian Cup campaign but Balmain Football Club where it all started for Cahill, with the support of Football NSW, Netball NSW and Athletics NSW, is now leading a campaign to ensure there are enough “Spaces to Play” for future generations.
The Bays Precinct development, a multi-billion dollar project by Urban Growth NSW on the western city fringe, will include 16,000 new dwellings bringing around 32,000 new residents to the area but there are serious concerns the State Government is not planning to include any new open active space in the project so the question must be asked: “Where will the people play?”
A Sporting Alliance is banding together to demand an undertaking that adequate Spaces to Play, at least ten sporting fields and infrastructure for other smaller footprint sporting activities, are provided for the future needs of the community.
It’s well documented that sport and recreation activity can provide improved social, health, educational and cultural outcomes for all and by ignoring the need for Spaces to Play in a development with a projected population of 32,000, more than Balmain, Rozelle and Annandale combined, there is a real risk the fitness and well-being of the residents would suffer.
Without the facilities needed in the Bays Precinct development, new residents wanting sport and recreation would only put further pressure on the inner-west’s existing facilities that are already overused in the most densely populated part of Sydney.
There are serious concerns the State Government is ignoring the needs of the community and a Sporting Alliance (including football, netball, athletics, cricket, rugby union and rugby league) is acting now before it’s too late to secure the Spaces to Play we need.
Sporting organisations, participants and personalities will rally together on Saturday 7th February at Sydney Secondary College, Balmain Campus to demand a guarantee adequate open active space is included in the Bays Precinct.
WHAT: Rally to demand Spaces to Play in the Bays Precinct development
WHERE: Sydney Secondary College, Balmain Campus
23-33 Terry St Balmain
WHEN: Saturday 7th February at 3.45pm
Further Enquiries: Glenn Burge, President Balmain FC: bfecpres@gmail.com – 0408 700 529
