Coffs Coast Hockey awarded $440k for new changerooms

Hockey the big winners just weeks after avoiding having to share space with Regional Athletics Centre.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh with (from left) board member Glenn Gallatly, secretary Debbie Baldwin and president Graham Robinson. Photo: Craig McTear

Coffs Coast hockey players have been given a boost just weeks after a plan to have the sport share their space with athletics was shelved.

Hockey Coffs Coast will press ahead with stage two of their Coffs Harbour Hockey Complex plans with a NSW Government commitment to spend $440,000 on the project.

New accessible changerooms, toilets and shower facilities will be installed at the venue which sits at the southeastern corner of the Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park.

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said the important project will deliver female friendly changerooms to complement the existing clubroom and canteen.

“This will further encourage participation in local hockey and provide facilities which could cater for regional and major events,” he said.

“I congratulate Hockey Coffs Coast on their successful application which will result in improved sporting infrastructure for our community.”

The athletics community have put produced a map showing Oztag could have up to 40 potential fields to use during a tournament.

The commitment comes shortly after the sport avoided losing fields with the potential creation of a Regional Athletics Centre at Bruce Barnier Oval next door.

At the most recent Coffs Harbour City Council meeting councillors decided not to make a decision on where the proposed RAC should go, citing significant issues for the existing user groups at both Bruce Barnier Oval and the alternative site at York St, Park Beach.

In a wide ranging debate on the issue, councillors resolved to investigate council-owned greenfield sites for a potential RAC, putting forward another $40,000 to progress site selection and preliminary concept planning.