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Victorian Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence has today launched the Victorian Government backed Future Proofing Community Sport and Recreation Facilities online guide and toolkit at the opening of the 2020 Sports Environment Alliance Virtual Summit.

The resource was developed through a $100,000 Victorian Government strategic partnership between Sport and Recreation Victoria and the Sports Environment Alliance and brings together current research and proven techniques and approaches to future proofing facilities of all descriptions in the face of climate change.

Minister Spence notes “we’re proud to have joined with the Sports Environment Alliance to launch this great online resource.

“I encourage everyone in the sports sector to embrace the innovative ideas presented in this great collection of information and advice, and join us in leading the way in future-proofing community sport and recreation facilities.”

New online resources will raise the bar when it comes to reducing the impact of sport on the environment and increasing the sustainability of community sport for clubs, local councils and facility managers.

From water saving ideas to protecting grass surfaces, the resource provides the latest best-practice and sustainable innovation to prepare facilities for extreme weather conditions including floods, droughts and heatwaves.

Reducing the impacts of climate change on community sport and becoming more sustainable will keep downward pressure on the cost of sport as organisations seek to reduce environmental impact and ensure sport remains accessible and affordable for all.

Sports Environment Alliance Executive Director Dr Sheila Nguyen advises “the natural environment provides for our communities and gives us places where we can play. It is incumbent on us to show gratitude and demonstrate responsibility in how we protect these spaces for future generations.”

Sport and Recreation Victoria recognises the value of environmental sustainability in the development of community sports infrastructure by mandating specific funding allocations to sustainability measures for aquatic centres and indoor stadiums.

The Victorian Government has invested more than $915 million in community sport and recreation infrastructure since 2014 and this resource will help even more community sports organisations to meet community expectations and be ready to tackle the challenges of climate change.

Future Proofing Community Sport and Recreation Facilities can be found at sportsenvironmentalliance.org.

Image: The report, Hit for Six, released in September 2019,  at Lords in England brings together the expertise of climate scientists and sports physiologists to explore what climate change is doing to the sport of cricket. Image courtesy of Cricket Victoria

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