Sportsmen and women may be able to kit up in comfort at future sporting events at Bill Smyth Oval if Eurobodalla Shire Council’s bid for a $380,000 NSW Government grant succeeds.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Boys and girls have been forced to share change rooms at the oval, sparking complaints from sporting groups and parents.
A council spokeswoman said plans included extended change rooms, with two new sets of shower bays and new toilets. Significant upgrades to water and sewer services and a verandah extension were also required.
“The council applied to the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund in May,” she said.
“We expect to hear the outcome of the application during August; total cost of the project is $479,000 and the council will contribute the balance.”
She said the council recognised extra infrastructure was required to cater for the wide variety of users of Narooma’s sporting precinct.
Bega MP Andrew Constance has encouraged the shire to apply for state government funding for the oval.
Meanwhile, the Bill Smyth Oval Redevelopment Committee – which is pushing for a major overhaul of the entire complex and fields – lobbied the NSW Opposition on Monday.
You have a netball court sitting over there with no facilities
- Lynda Voltz
Committee spokesman Graham Peachey told Shadow sports minister Lynda Voltz “netball players were getting changed in the bushes, had to be chaperoned across the oval to get water, and had no facilities”.
Ms Voltz said it was a familiar story, as “44 per cent of sports fields didn’t have facilities for women”.
“Netball is the largest womens’ sport in Australia by a country mile, and you have a netball court sitting over there with no facilities,” Ms Voltz said.
Mr Peachey said other required changes included; a second oval with lighting, a second netball court with change rooms, and grandstand seating.
“This is the most used oval in the shire,” he said.
“The group we have together – representing all the different sports codes and community groups – is working with the council to get outcomes for this oval.”
Councillor Lindsay Brown attended Monday’s meeting and said the precinct would be a major focus of strategic planning for the council this year.
“Council knows how busy this oval gets. In recent times, the increase in the participation of women in sport has provided impetus to focus on this project.”
