The disaster state of play in the West

NETBALL courts without toilets, pools closed for half the year and sports grounds minus lights - this is the playing field of junior sport in Western Sydney.

Fair Go for the West - Junior Sport

NETBALL courts without toilets, pools closed for half the year and sports grounds minus lights — this is the playing field of junior sport in Western Sydney.

Key sporting organisations are calling on the state government as part of The Daily Telegraph’s Fair Go for the West campaign to bump up the $138 million allocated this financial year to funding grassroots sporting clubs, maintain facilities and build new infrastructure.

The Fair Go for the West campaign is calling for better resources for the people of Western Sydney and has nominated improved sport facilities as a priority in its Fair Go Action Plan, to be presented to the Premier later this year.

“There is not enough money in sport,’’ Western Sydney Academy of Sport boss Martin Bullock said.

There’s not even a service station nearby. Players have to hold on or go home

“South-western Sydney’s population is expanding and there will be a widespread shortage of facilities.

The veteran sports administrator said, while there were a handful of top-notch facilities for the dominant codes such as rugby league and netball, sports like baseball and tennis struggled.

The sprawling suburbia from Parramatta to the foothills of the Blue Mountains has long been a rugby league nursery but it is becoming a victim of it’s own success — with clubs fast outgrowing limited facilities.

Erskine Park Eagles netballers ( L to r) Hannah Waldon 11, Claire Waldon 8, Georgia Wright 7, Taliyah Moeroa 7, Tyarnie Moeroa 5, Holly Thorpe 7, Marlee Williams 5, Ebony Wright 9 and Maia Williams 7, with president Lynn Deuis.

NRL game engagement and indigenous programs media manager Anna Wallin said the biggest issue the code faced in the west was the need for green-field sites.

“As our numbers continue to increase so does our need for space,’’ she said.

“The perfect example of this is the Rouse Hill Rhinos. While the facility is not old the club and NRL has had to start talking to the Hills Shire Council about the next stage as the club is already outgrowing their facilities.

“For us it’s about the need for new space and careful planning for the future.’’

The Erskine Park Eagles Netball Club began planning for a toilet block 14 years ago.

With 27 teams and 300 players ranging in age from six to 60 they still go without the most essential of facilities.

There’s not even a tap to fill water bottles.

Fair Go For the West

CHAMPIONS OF THE WEST NOMINATIONS

TELL US WHY YOU LOVE YOUR AREA

MUMBRELLA: TELEGRAPH'S TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF HOW TO RUN WINNING NEWSPAPER CAMPAIGN

MAYORS CALL FOR NORTH-WEST RAIL LINK EXTENSION TO SECOND AIRPORT

“Some of the little ones go in the bushes,’’ Eagles president Lynn Deuis said.

“There’s not even a service station nearby. Players have to hold on or go home.’’

Ms Deuis, also the secretary of the Penrith District Netball Association, said it was an all too common experience in the west.

“A lot of clubs need extra things such as lights so they can use training grounds into the evenings,’’ she said.

After 14 years the Eagles are hopeful of some relief having submitted a grant that would see a basic amenities building built this year.

After getting Penrith councillors down to inspect the site, Ms Deuis said they agreed to build a toilet block, dependent on a further $25,000 grant from NSW Sport and Recreation.

“Without this grant we will have no toilets,’’ she said.