Sporting groups and those looking to enjoy the great outdoors have a new destination to compete, exercise and play, with the multimillion-dollar upgrades to the Stuart Park Sporting Precinct now complete thanks to the NSW Government and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
The nearly $4 million project was joint funded with $3.192 million from the NSW Government through the Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund and Council’s investment of $800,000.
Mayor Peta Pinson said Stuart Park has become one of our much sought after sporting and recreation destinations.
“Whether you’re a competitive sportsperson, enjoy a kick of the footy with friends or love taking your four-legged friend for some exercise, Stuart Park really does have it all,” said Mayor Pinson.
“We really do have such a wonderful asset here that adds to our many other wonderful sporting facilities, and I’d like to thank the NSW Government, the local community, and sporting groups for working closely with Council to make it possible.”
Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams said this major upgrade to Stuart Park will greatly improve sporting opportunities for local residents for many years to come.
“We all know the benefits that sport plays on the health and wellbeing of communities and this project is no exception.
“It is exciting to see the work that has been carried out locally to make this sporting facility one of the best in coastal NSW.
“The upgrade to Stuart Park is one of 21 projects that received grant funding from the NSW Government through the $100 million Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund,” Mrs Williams said.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said the Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund invested in new and existing facilities to boost participation and performance at all levels.
“The Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund provides great new spaces and places for sport and active recreation in regional NSW,” Mr Lee said.
“The Stuart Park Sporting Precinct is a world-class sport and recreation venue for the Port Macquarie-Hastings. Young athletes across the region will relish all it has to offer.”
The popular sporting destination is home to numerous existing sports fields, and has been improved thanks to new spectator hills for better viewing of games, improved drainage, new change-rooms, and inclusion of plug and play outlets and Wi-Fi.
Existing amenities have also had a major upgrade and now provide gender-neutral change rooms, unisex and ambulant toilets, and improved canteen facilities to cater for the growing number of people enjoying the area.
New shelters, seating, picnic tables and BBQs add relaxing features, and pedestrian safety and traffic movement has also improved with adjacent roads and car parks upgraded, new bus parking and turnaround bays in place and wayfinding signage installed.
Two new outdoor multipurpose courts have been constructed, a new petanque court, 1.6kms of shared use footpath and 1.6kms of internal pedestrian footpaths as well as new LED sports field lighting.
These features add to the all-abilities children’s playground and off-leash dog park which were opened in late 2019, making the precinct’s transformation now complete.
For more information about the Stuart Park Sporting Precinct visit pmhc.nsw.gov.au/stuart-park.