An Albanese Labor Government will invest $2.5 million to upgrade the historic Henson Park rugby league ground in Sydney’s Inner West, transforming it into a multi-purpose sporting facility that will also host major AFL Womens matches.
This comes after the Sydney Swans recently announced that they will officially enter the AFLW in 2023, and the Giants AFLW team playing back-to-back matches at Henson Park in the 2022 season.
In a critical breakthrough for women’s sport locally, the project would also include construction of female change rooms.
The upgrade is a joint initiative of the AFL, Newtown Jets and Inner West Council.
With professional sport increasingly dominated by elite national competitions and mega-stadiums, Federal Labor values that suburban sporting facilities continue to perform a vital role in our communities.
These smaller grounds not only facilitate participation in healthy physical activity for people of all ages, but also enrich communities by bringing neighbours together to support their local teams.
In recent years Henson Park has had great success in attracting big crowds for Newtown Jets matches by marketing itself to families seeking the experience of “old school” suburban football.
This project is a winner all round – for the two major football codes, for female participation in sport and for the entire community of the Inner West.
Plans include:
- Upgrading the King George V Memorial Grandstand including additional female friendly change rooms, amenities, medical and umpiring facilities as well as spectator facilities and disability access.
- Upgrading the broadcast, coaches’ boxes and officials’ facilities to facilitate television broadcast of games.
- Renewing the electronic scoreboard and public address system.
- Upgraded toilet facilities including much needed disabled toilets.
