Improving women's changerooms across Canberra will be a key pillar in ACT Labor's $60m investment in local sporting facilities across the capital, should it win this month's election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The campaign trail led to Phillip Enclosed Oval on Friday morning, where sports minister Yvette Berry promised $7.5m to upgrade the venue, which would fund a refurbishment of its ageing grandstand, a new pavilion, the construction of female-friendly amenities blocks, lighting and improved parking.
Phillip Oval is shared by the Woden Valley Rams in the local rugby league competition, and Royals Rugby. Both clubs field senior women's teams.
"We've got the two changerooms here and the boys are really accommodating...we're lucky to have two separate spaces, but there's nothing private if you want to get changed," Rams star Jen Fahey said.
"The club's been really good with including us and just making sure that the girls feel comfortable as well which is good.
"Royals and Rams have a really big culture and history with women's sports so now having that infrastructure is a positive step moving forward."
ACT Labor has also pledged to upgrade facilities at Kingston and Greenway Ovals, and the District Playing Fields at Hawker and Holt.
A further $7.5m would be pumped into resurfacing netball courts across Canberra.
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
It builds on last month's announcement to construct an $8m tennis facility in Gungahlin.
"Let's face it, sports facilities and pavilions in the ACT and across the country were built 40 or 50 years ago, they were built by men, for men," Berry said.
"We are playing catch up and turning that around to make sure that sports facilities are female friendly and do meet the needs of that female sports participation which is continuing to grow."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
