SPORTS clubs have voiced disappointment about a yet to be fulfilled election promise for funding to upgrade facilities at Abbeville Park.
Mindarie Football Club secretary Neil Gornell said the club had hoped floodlights and change rooms would receive upgrades after both State election candidates for the Burns Beach electorate promised $400,000 earlier this year.
However, Mr Gornell said they learnt last week that the State Government had only given the City of Wanneroo $10,000 this financial year for design upgrades.
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READ NOWThe Mindarie resident said the club split training sessions for its 130 junior members over four nights because of the limited lighting.
“If we had floodlights, we could all train together on two nights,” he said.
“That greatly reduces our ability to grow the club. We don’t have the facilities for older kids.”
Mr Gornell said if the City had received the funding, it could spend about $300,000 on upgrading the floodlights and use the remainder to provide storage facilities for user groups, including the Mindarie Mustangs Little Athletics Club.
“The little athletics club have purchased their own sea container,” he said.
“We have 20 coaches who have all their equipment in their garages; they bring it to training and match days.”
In March, Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard said he would match a pre-election promise by then Liberal MLA Albert Jacob to provide $400,000 for Abbeville Park upgrades.
“We are committed to the Abbeville Park upgrades and will deliver on our commitment,” he told the Times.
“The State Budget included an initial allocation of $10,000 towards the upgrades. Details on the allocation of remaining funding will be announced in due course.”
Pearce MHR Christian Porter said he would work with the clubs to put pressure on the State member to deliver on the pre-election promise.
“In Labor’s recent State Budget there is no line item for funding any upgrades at Abbeville Park over the next four years,” Mr Porter said.
Other groups that use Abbeville Park include Quinns Junior and Quinns Senior cricket clubs, plus Mindarie Primary School.
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