Minister for Infrastructure and Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese said today that Inner West sporting clubs would celebrate the opening of the upgraded Sydney Secondary College – Leichhardt Campus playing field.

"The Inner West is desperately short of local playing fields," said Mr Albanese.

"By upgrading this school oval for use by local sporting clubs, we are making it easier for kids in Leichhardt to play soccer and touch football close to home.”

Mr Albanese opened the upgrade with NSW Education Minister Verity Firth, Leichhardt Mayor Jamie Parker, Leichhardt councillors and students of Sydney Secondary College – Leichhardt Campus.

The state of the art playing field uses high quality specialist sport-field couch grass, which will be maintained by a fully automated underground irrigation system with field drainage and stormwater storage.

The grounds are used by the entire school community of 720 students and now over 1,000 junior sporting club participants will also be able to play on the oval.

The Australian Government provided $253,000 to Leichhardt Council for the project from the $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP).

Mr Albanese also announced Leichhardt Council would receive an additional $93,000 from the second round of the RLCIP. This money will be used to upgrade 36th Battalion Park in Hill Street, Leichhardt.

The project includes a new children's playground, improved park fencing, drainage, footpath improvements, a teenager recreation area, bubbler and landscaping.

The Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, part of the Australian Government’s Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan, is delivering local jobs in communities across Australia by building infrastructure for the long term.

Importantly, 21 contractors and suppliers were employed to undertake the works at Sydney Secondary College – Leichhardt Campus and it was estimated a further 11 jobs would be supported in the project at 36th Battalion Park.

Mr Albanese congratulated Leichhardt Council and the local community for helping deliver these two local projects.