Port Pirie celebrates a timely $24m boost as new sports complex nears completion
A new $24 million sports complex in Port Pirie will attract major sporting events and help clubs grow — take a look at the results of the city’s biggest-ever community project.
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A new $24 million sports complex in Port Pirie will attract major sporting events and help clubs grow, providing a timely boost for the region.
The hub will host a pre-season clash between the Crows and Power in March and the SA Masters Games in April, attracting thousands of visitors to the town.
Port Pirie Sports Precinct’s aquatic and leisure centre opens on Monday, December 3, featuring an indoor pool, splash park, gymnastics area and squash courts.
The council is putting the finishing touches on the rest of the development, which also includes upgrades to two ovals, a baseball diamond and soccer pitch, function centre, new scoreboard, turf cricket pitches and relocated croquet club.
Its annual report describes the sports overhaul as the council’s biggest ever capital project.
Mayor Leon Stephens said the work, backed by $10 million in state and federal funding, was nine years in the making.
“It’s been a big spend but we’ll get the benefit of this easily for 50 years and we’re very proud of it,” Mr Stephens said.
“We know the AFL game will generate mega dollars — we’ll probably see about 7000-8000 people at that game.
“If the hotel rooms are full that’s a big plus, and the vendors selling at the event will get a spin-off as well.”
The final piece of the development will be the complex’s function centre, which is due to open in February.
Mr Stephens hoped the sport overhaul would help stem “the brain drain” of young people moving out of the region, and bring an economic boost to Port Pirie in the wake of news that 120 jobs would be axed at the Nyrstar smelter.
The council also planned to bid for other major events in future.
“I made a comment in the (council) chamber one night that if you weren’t proud of what we’ve achieved there, you’re probably dead from the shoulders up,” Mr Stephens said.
New lighting would allow sports clubs to host more night games.
“Compared to the lighting we had, if you ran over to the half forward flank, no one could see you and now it’s like being a fox in a spotlight,” Mr Stephens said.
Midge Johnson, president of Pirie’s Port Football Club, said the Bulldogs were looking forward to playing games at the centre, which he hoped would encourage more people to join local teams.
“The majority of the football in our league will be based there,” he said.
“It’s a magnificent complex.”
Port Pirie Council received funding from the Federal Government’s National Stronger Regions Fund and the State Government’s Office for Recreation and Sport.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au
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