Coffs Harbour’s world-class regional sports hub has broken new ground today with construction officially beginning on the new synthetic fields.
Premier Berejiklian said the NSW Government was committed to improving the quality and quantity of sports venues in regional areas.
“The Coffs Coast Regional Sports Hub is a great example of the benefits of investing in high quality sports facilities in regional NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The Hub has already attracted major regional and national sporting events, including the first BBL match in regional NSW last January, where some of the biggest names in world cricket blasted boundaries.”
“These events attract visitors and encourage spending in regional communities, which creates employment and stronger regional economies.”
Three new rectangular fields and inclusive amenities will be built as part of Stage 2 of the Coffs Coast Regional Sports Hub creating 68 local jobs during construction.
The project is funded through a $10 million grant from the NSW Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund and is one of 21 projects in regional NSW to benefit from $100 million in sports infrastructure funding.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said Stage 2 of the Coffs Coast Regional Sports Hub would provide facilities to boost participation and performance at all levels.
“The Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund ensures regional NSW has a network of spaces and places that will enable the Coffs Coast to get involved in sport and active recreation,” Mr Lee said.
“Stage 2 of the Coffs Coast Regional Sports Hub will provide an inclusive, world-class sport and recreation venue for people of all abilities across the region.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian joined Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh at the turning of the sod ceremony.
“This investment will bring huge improvements to a vital piece of infrastructure for the Coffs Harbour sports sector and the broader community,” Mr Singh said.
“It will boost the tourism industry bringing bigger and better events for the region and in doing so create more jobs for the Coffs Harbour community.
“We are the first choice regional destination for major sporting and entertainment events.”
Coffs Harbour Mayor, Councillor Denise Knight said the real winner of this latest innovation will be our community, which will benefit from the opportunities the events will offer and the economic value they bring.
“The Regional Sports Hub Stage 2 with its fantastic new facilities, including the only synthetic football fields in the area, can only add to our attraction as a place to hold local, regional, national and international events.”
“It will also reinforce our reputation as a welcoming city that offers an excellent event experience.
The Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park precinct where the Regional Sports Hub is located comprises 16 hectares of sporting facilities and fields that service football, oztag, AFL, cricket, touch football, rugby league, rugby union, baseball, hockey and athletics at district, regional, state, national and elite level.
Stage 2 of the Coffs Coast Regional Sports Hub will include:
• Two rectangular synthetic fields with lighting
• A rectangular turf field with lighting
• A four change room amenity block (including public toilets, canteen, and officials rooms)
• Car parking
Components of the project already completed:
• A 2 x change room expansion to existing amenities, which includes canteen, storage and officials facilities
• Foot path connectivity between Coffs Harbour Health Campus, Coffs Harbour Education campus, and Coffs Coast Sport & Leisure Park precinct