The infrastructure class that will add most value to your community

Propertyology’s head of research Simon Pressley said sports infrastructure projects improve a city’s liveability, but also make positive impacts to the local property market through job creation during and post construction. 

Approximately 220,000 people are directly employed across the sector, with this number expanding when hospitality, retail and tourism jobs are considered. The Sports Australia Council have supported this belief, stating “sport is a big business – and a good investment. It provides an estimated $83 billion in combined economic, health and educational benefits each year.”

Of all the major infrastructure projects invested into, none touch a community greater than sporting initiatives, particularly elite-level sport, especially considering 6.5 out of every 10 Australians are actively involved in sport.

“Our sporting heroes occupy a unique platform. They inspire our youth, they generate a positive energy, and they have a positive influence on mental and physical health. When a community is represented in elite-level sport it makes an immense contribution to the visitor economy,” said Mr Pressley.

“Investment in stadium infrastructure and integrated sporting precincts enables the hosting of major events — one of the most effective marketing tools that a city has. As a result, the city’s profile grows, the visitor economy grows, and it creates awareness about internal migration.”

Many cities around the country have seen the potential in world-class infrastructure. Adelaide and Perth have both invested over $1 billion into elite-level integrated stadium developments that provide “an evergreen boost to community spirit and generate hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for their economies”.

Similarly, in smaller regional centres, places like Geelong, Townsville and Newcastle are paving the path for success.

The report also found that “the benefit to an individual city is relative to the dollar-value infrastructure investment and the size of the community’s population”. Adding that “for example, the $43 million to be investment in sport infrastructure in Mildura, Victoria is just as valuable as the $23 million in Orange, NSW, $20 million in Albury, and the $13 million in Rockhampton”.

Right around the country, from Sydney to Darwin, cities are starting to take note of the benefits of strategic sporting infrastructure investment that lie outside the barometers of on-field performance.

Mr Pressley concluded that “the best visionaries appreciate that a well-executed integrated sporting strategy arguably produces immense benefits for physical and mental health, a wide range of social benefits and personal developments, community connection and economic growth”.

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