Election pledge for Sportspark

CURRENT Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan is hoping to win local sportspeople’s votes with an election pledge of up to $500,000 to upgrade the Whitsunday Sportspark.

Whitsunday Sportspark president Steve Tween and secretary Justin Butler are among those who have been working on a vision for the facility for the past two years.

Mr Tween said a simple re-alignment of the playing fields would allow for a full-size premier field and smaller training field to be built, effectively doubling the capacity of sporting clubs to play.

“It’ll double the playing surface basically and we’ll be able to run two games at once during carnivals so it will also shorten our days,” he said.

On Tuesday Mr Costigan called into the Sportspark to say that if he were re-elected on Saturday, the dreams of its committee would come true.

“I appreciate the hub that is the Sportspark,” he said.

“I don’t care if it’s tennis or tiddly-winks – if it gets kids off the streets, away from their video games and off the couch, it’s a good thing.”

Mr Tween described himself as “stoked” by the funding pledge.

“To everybody who plays sport here it will be incredible,” he said.

The Whitsunday Sportspark is used by a variety of clubs including the Whitsunday Touch Football Association, Whitsunday Football Club, Raiders Rugby Union Club, Sea Eagles AFL Club and the Whitsunday Netball Association.

Mr Tween estimated the facility was used by at least 1000 people per week.