Maitland Liberal Councillors Mitchell Griffin and Sally Halliday have called out Labor Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson for breaking a promise to fully fund upgrades to Cooks Square Park.
The park is the home ground to Maitland FC’s team the Maitland Magpies. During the lead up to the May Federal Election Ms Swanson made the promise, less than six months ago, to provide $2 million in funding to upgrade Cooks Square Park.
The member stated on April 27, 2022 “that if elected on May 21, an Albanese Labor Government will provide $2 million in funding to upgrade Cook Square”.
This promise was in response the $2 million in funding announced for this financial year by Liberal candidate Brooke Vitnell.
In the Federal Budget released by the Albanese Government only $1 million has been allocated towards upgrades to the council owned facility.
This is half the amount pledged to the
Maitland community by Ms Swanson in April.
“It is very disappointing to see Maitland FC and Council effectively short-changed by Meryl as well as the Albanese Government.
If the Labor Government are willing to break a promise just six months after making it, it makes me wonder what other funding could be at risk”, Cr Mitchell Griffin said.
“Maitland FC is a prominent and successful football club, and current NPL Northern NSW Premiers. They require a facility that will allow players to grow and develop. This broken promise is a real kick in the guts to football in Maitland”, said Cr Sally Halliday.
Councillors Griffin and Halliday will continue to push the Federal Government to provide the full funds from this broken promise.