Game on for Coffs as $14m sport complex hailed ‘a star’
Coffs Harbour argues there’ll be no need to check the video for a ruling as it claims to have the finest sports precinct between Newcastle and the Queensland border. See the latest piece in the puzzle and the plan for more.
Coffs Harbour
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Coffs Harbour is laying claim to being the Sports Central of the North Coast on the back of the official opening of the $14 million Stage 2 of its regional hub project.
While the twin synthetic playing fields have been up and running since February, Friday morning saw Coffs City Harbour Council, the state government, contractors and media on site for the inevitable cutting of a ceremonial ribbon.
As well as the all-weather artificial fields which have been built to the standard of football’s world governing body in FIFA, Stage 2 of the South Coffs project includes a turf playing ground, a general purpose headquarters with canteen and admin rooms, carparking, access roads, and sub-surface drainage and irrigation networks.
Council kicked in $4m and the state $10m in a construction process that stretched more than two years, and which was hampered by Covid and ever-present rain.
Mayor Paul Amos said 750 bookings had been taken since the playing grounds opened in February - and the synthetic fields have been in hot demand with anchor tenant North Coast Football which has been hamstrung by so many natural grounds being sodden and unfit for play.
“It’s a runaway success,” Mr Amos said.
Part of the infrastructure of Stage 2 includes connected pedestrian/cycle paths linking the precinct with the nearby education and health campuses.
And the dreaming isn’t done - as plans for a regional indoor sports centre are already on the board.
Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh marvelled the new admin headquarter building was tardis-like - open plan and much larger inside than what it appears from out.
Mr Singh said the sports complex was “professional”, and the finest on the coast between Newcastle and the Queensland border.
“When we got the new hockey fields, the standard (of the players) improved,” Mr Singh said.
“We’re giving our children and the next generation opportunity.”
Some 122 direct jobs were created during the Stage 2 build.
Mr Amos said local residents tended to be in one of two “camps” - sport or cultural - but he believed the project had gained universal support.
“This is the little star of Coffs Harbour,” he said.
The official opening wasn’t hitch-free - there were problems unlocking an entrance gate to one of the synthetic fields and the ceremonial wooden scissors couldn’t quite cut it in slicing through the ribbon - but no one lost sight of the bigger ball in play.
None was beaming wider at the opening than North Coast Football (NCF) general manager Andrew Woodward, who said the code was already making full use of the facility.
“It really is a game-changer. We can offer football for all ages, styles and abilities in a fantastic central location,” Mr Woodward said.
“This year, the new synthetic pitches have proved invaluable, with record rainfall leaving many grass pitches unplayable.”
As well as full format senior and junior football, Mr Woodward said NCF had plans to develop offerings for people with a disability, walking football for older people, football for preschoolers, school holiday carnivals and an academy.
“It’s about bringing people into the game who can’t play weekends - and getting them off their Xboxes,” he said.
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