The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly to the imminent closure of the facility at 16 Georgina Street, Kaleen, including the Kaleen Indoor Sports Centre.
This facility has long been a cornerstone of the Yerrabi and broader northside community, providing a safe, warm and welcoming community space for people of all ages to play multiple organised sports, attend a gym 24/7, and socialise, particularly during Canberra’s harsh winters.
There are many health and social benefits for the community being able to engage in sport all year round in an easy to access location. This decision has been made with minimal community consultation, leaving thousands of north Canberrans without access to such essential broad-based indoor sporting facilities.
Before proceeding with the closure, greater consideration should have been given to the needs of the northside community and the significant impact this decision will have on them.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call on the ACT Government to:
Commit to building a new, publicly owned, comprehensive sporting facility in Kaleen or nearby suburbs, with meaningful consultation with the community on location, design and accessibility;
Consider compensating the business owners impacted by the closure of the complex at 16 Georgina Street; and
Explore legislative changes to protect community facilities from accessing lease variations that potentially rob the community of that facility.