Coffs Harbour netballers rejoice as $1.8M Vost Park redevelopment announced

Feds swoop in with funding commitment after Association jokes there was ‘no way’ lamington drives could fill the financial void.

Liz King CHNA, Deputy PM Michael McCormack, Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan, Coffs Harbour Mayor Denise Knight at the announcment $1.8 million will be spent upgrading Vost Park.

How many lamington drives does it take to fund a top class netball court development?

Too many according to an delighted Coffs Harbour Netball Association president Liz King, speaking after the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack announced the federal government and Coffs Harbour City Council will fund a major redevelopment of Vost Park.

The existing nine netball courts will be ripped up and relaid to an international standard with a new high quality Plexipave Netball Surface System along with improved drainage and lighting.

The plans have been in the works for more than a year and Ms King said the Vost St courts had been “patched to death”, adding that despite the hard work of their many volunteers there “was no way a lamington drive” would get the project over the line.

“It’s huge, there was no way we could possibly have done it by ourselves,” she said.

“This is absolutely fantastic, we have something for our members to look forward to.

“We … would like to express our deep appreciation to all levels of government and their representatives for their recognition and support.”

With the confirmation of $1.45 million from the federal government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program and $350,000 from Council, it is hoped works will be completed by Christmas.

Coffs Harbour Mayor Councillor Denise Knight was delighted by the commitment which meant local netballers would “have a really high-quality facility in which to learn, improve, be inspired to achieve, and compete.”

Mr McCormack said LRCI programs were supporting Councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia.

“Our funding boost is helping communities across Australia accelerate priority projects to get people into jobs and stimulate our economy,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Every single job we support is helping communities bounce back from the impacts of COVID-19.”

The news comes at a good time for Coffs Harbour netball with CHNA secretary Vicki Morris explaining there were a number of young players, coaches and umpires working their way towards the elite level.

In addition to the seven players and two umpires currently part of the North Coast Academy of Sport set up, Mia Blackett and Nikkia Humphries had been accepted into the Netball NSW pathways program.