Today, I officially opened the brand-new Keirle Park Sporting and Community Pavilion, with the Mayor of Manly Council, Jean Hay, funded through the Rudd Labor Government’s Community Infrastructure Program.

The $320,000 Keirle Park Pavilion includes a community meeting room, kiosk, large balcony, outdoor paved area for barbeques, disabled access ramps, solar hot water heating and a rainwater tank.

The project supported 10 jobs during construction and has also created one long-term position for the ongoing maintenance of the pavilion

The Rudd Government provided $209,000 towards this project, with the Manly Council contributing $41,000.

The remaining funding of $70,000 was provided by the Manly Roos Junior Rugby Club, who use the park as their home ground.

The new pavilion will serve local families, children and young people, as well as sporting and community clubs using the fields into the future.

More than 400 people are expected to use the pavilion every week, data provided by Manly Council shows.

This upgrade has made an important contribution to the local economy during construction by supporting local jobs and businesses.

The Community Infrastructure Program, part of the Rudd Government’s Economic Stimulus Plan, is supporting local jobs in thousands of communities across Australia while delivering infrastructure over the long-term.

Through this $1 billion program, we have already funded more than 3,300 small and larger scale building projects nationally, including libraries, sporting facilities, parks and playgrounds.

Under the next round of the Program, Manly Council has already been allocated $75,000 to support jobs through more local infrastructure projects.

I congratulate Manly Council, Manly Roos Junior Rugby Club and the local community for delivering the Keirle Park Sporting and Community Pavilion.