A strong focus on sport and recreation in the community has won Western Australia’s City of Melville the Local Government Award at the Australian Sports Commission’s annual Active Australia Awards.
The City’s sport and recreation strategy delivers over 1,000 programs to over a million customers each year and has lead to a sustained increase in sport and recreation participation.
Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Officer, Mark Peters, said Melville is a fine example of the role Local Government can play in developing sport and recreation opportunities in the local community.
“Melville has shown that modern Local Governments go beyond the traditional role of providing fields and courts for sports to be played on,” he said. “Melville has listened to its community and introduced a wide range of programs to cater for the diverse sport and recreation needs of the population.”
One example is Council’s commitment to lifelong community sporting activities through the Active @ 50+ program. Beginning as a weight resistance program, it now incorporates other sporting activities such as aqua classes, stretch and tone, body balance and court sports. This program is attracting over 3,500 customers a month.
The City of Melville operates modern facilities including The Leeming, Southern Districts, Blue Gum and Melville Recreation Centres, the Melville Aquatic Centre, the golf course, sports grounds and other sporting facilities, as well as 120 kilometres of dual use pathways.
The Active Australia program aims to increase participation in organised sport as well as improve the management infrastructure, products and services at all levels of sport to ensure quality participation outcomes across the community.
