Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government today announced the Rudd Labor Government would offer more than $5.3 million towards the development of the Drummoyne Sports and Cultural Precinct in Sydney.

Minister Albanese made the announcement today with Member for Lowe, John Murphy, and City of Canada Bay Mayor, Angelo Tsirekas.

This development is about providing a state-of-the-art sporting and cultural precinct at Drummoyne Oval and Drummoyne and Taplin Parks.

It will be able to:

• Host televised first class sporting events, in particular cricket matches;


• Support cricket, AFL, and rugby from the school and community level to international level (such as the Women's Cricket World Cup held at the Oval this year);


• Provide a venue on the Parramatta River for staging cultural events;


• Provide community meeting space to support the Drummoyne Community Centre;


• Improve access to the Parramatta River and the Sydney Harbour through new and improved boat launching facilities; and


• Deliver high quality public recreational space through a natural amphitheatre, new lighting, access pathways, public art, plantings and street furnishings

The Rudd Government is funding half of this $10.5 million project, which will support jobs during construction and through increased use of the Precinct.

Federal funding is part of our $800 million Community Infrastructure Program – the largest one-off investment in local infrastructure in Australia's history.

Through the Rudd Government’s economic stimulus package, we are investing in major projects like this to support local jobs and economies during the global recession.

Federal funding will contribute to Stage Two of the Precinct, which will construct a multipurpose facility with under-cover training area and practice nets, spectator seating, and a large, flexible meeting space.

It will also contribute to Stage Three upgrades of Drummoyne and Taplin Parks including floodlighting, a playground, relocating the basketball practice court, widening the foreshore pathway, and improving water access through a new pontoon and boat ramp access.

The Precinct will recycle stormwater and improve access for wheelchairs and prams.

This funding builds on nearly $ 295,000 that the Rudd Government has already delivered for five local projects in the City of Canada Bay this year.

Nearly 70 per cent of the stimulus package is infrastructure, with construction projects already underway. More than 3,000 projects are being funded through the Government’s Community Infrastructure Program across Australia to support local jobs.

Anthony annoucing funding for Drummoyne Oval with, from left, NSW cricketer Phil Jaques, John Murphy, Angelo Tsirekas, Cricket Australia's Harry Harinath and Australian women's cricketer Lisa Sthalekar.