PLAYFORD Council and Central District Football Club are pushing for a $3 million Labor election promise to upgrade the Playford Sports Precinct to be funded by the Federal Liberal Government.

In the lead up to May’s federal election, Member for Spence Nick Champion announced, in the event of a Labor victory, Elizabeth Oval would receive a list of new upgrades, including new female change rooms, an upgrade of the Playford International College football oval, and a revamp of the softball facilities at nearby Ridley Reserve.

Labor’s subsequent defeat at the polls has left the project in limbo, with no commitment from the victorious Liberal Government to deliver the upgrades.

Playford mayor Glenn Docherty, whose council has funded much of the sporting precinct’s development, said the council was still committed to delivering the upgrades in full.

“Central District is a fantastic football club and it is great to see them embracing female participation,” he said.

“The club and I will be seeking an audience with the minister (for sport) to highlight the need for their investment in SANFLW, as one of the last SANFL venues without female change rooms.”

Central District fielded a women’s team for the first time this season, including players from throughout the Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association.

Chief executive Chris Grant said the club and council had submitted grant applications to bring the upgrades forward, but was yet to see any signs of success.

“It’s now a league competition and you want to be able to give them (the players) every opportunity,” he said.

“We also have under 15s and under 17s and it won’t be long before we have development squads and possibly under 18s down the track.

“Unless we have the right facilities, we can’t give them the respect that they need.”

The upgrades to Ridley Reserve, home of the Central Districts Softball Association, were expected to attract Olympic-level training camps and state and national championships.

Speaking to The Bunyip Mr Champion said securing the upgrades “isn’t something we (Federal Labor) can do from opposition”.

“The problem is that was a commitment that was given in anticipation of a Labor Government,” he said.

“They (the Liberal Government) aren’t under any obligation to do it.

“It’s one of my main priorities – if Labor was to form government at the next election, it would almost certainly be something I’m pushing for.”