$1 million upgrade to York Street Oval facilities for athletics, football

Coffs Harbour’s biggest community oval and training field for a premier league club is set to receive a $1.1 million upgrade. What is happening:

York Street Oval is set for a makeover that will see new amenities built for athletics and football.

The $1 million upgrade will feature long jump pits, discus cages, shot put circles and a running track around the Coffs Harbour grass oval.

New changerooms, bathrooms and storage facilities will also be built for use by the community as well as local football club Northern Storm.

The team trains at York St and club head coach Craig Caruana said the footballers will benefit greatly from the upgrades.

“Whenever it rains, the players’ car keys, wallet and bags get soaked out in the open,” Mr Caruana said.

The ground currently has one bathroom/toilet, which is often locked, leaving players and community members with no access to drinking water.

The upgrade is underway and scheduled to be finished by October to allow the field to prepare for the 2023 football season.

Concerns were raised this season as sporting grounds were unable to host fixtures due to flooding, while drought is also a concern.

York Street fields have spent much of this season under water due to heavy rain. Picture: Trevor Veale

“The main problem is there’s no drainage,” Mr Caruana said.

Several of his Coastal Premier League players suffered injuries on the rough surface, where sand has been used to patch holes caused by wet weather.

Mr Caruana said it was clear the field was not equipped for the often extreme Mid-North Coast weather.

“The fields needs to be cored out and reseeded to allow proper irrigation,” he said.

The existing canteen and change room at York Street Oval in Coffs Harbour is due for an upgrade. Picture: supplied

Despite the mega investment, the funding does not include upgrades to the playing field itself, but Northern Storm club secretary and former president Michael Lloyd said he’s confident a resurfacing grant will be pushed through.

“The grant will allow the field to be match-ready and combat the demand for sports growth in the region,” Mr Lloyd said.

The ground sees heavy usage, with over 300 Northern Storm players as well as 2000 district level players.

“The York Street field is predominantly weeds and has nothing to hold it together,” Mr Lloyd said.

The athletics community will also benefit greatly, with year-round operation from the reformed venue.

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said the multi-use field symbolises a step in the right direction.

“York Street has been a centrepiece for so many sports over the years,” Mr Singh said.

The project will provide 15 jobs in the region and Coffs Harbour mayor Paul Amos said it acts as statement of intent for the future of grassroots sport in the region.

“We really need facilities like this, and this is a great start,” Mr Amos said.