A Shorten Labor Government will deliver much needed upgrades to facilities at the Thebarton Oval.

Community sport clubs provide many benefits. They provide a place for communities to come together, building local bonds, and also boost health and fitness. They deserve federal attention.

Thebarton Oval is a key hub for the local community, and is used by the South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL) and other groups for major events, sporting carnivals and matches.

In addition, it has hosted local and national sporting competitions and community events with the Adelaide Crows, Port Power and Adelaide United all having used the oval for training.

Its location, only 3km from Adelaide’s CBD and on a major transport corridor, means it is perfectly placed to also create an administrative hub, bringing organisations together in the one location.

To realise its potential, the Oval’s ageing facilities will be upgraded, through the provision of $6.6 million in funding from a Shorten Labor Government.

The redevelopment will greatly boost the stadium’s capacity to cater for larger sporting competitions and community events.

The investment will also help the SAAFL increase their financial self-sufficiency, and secure Thebarton Oval’s future as a major sporting and community facility for the western suburbs.